Unplundered Royal Mycenaean Tomb Uncovered

"A subterranean tholos tomb was found along with four or five small, box-like cist tombs during construction of a new Volos ring road, according to the Ethnos daily.

Archaeologists have not yet entered the tholos tomb — a monumental structure of the same type as the famous “Tomb of Atreus” at Mycenae, which would have contained the remains of a local ruler. The paper quoted local antiquities director Vassiliki Adrymi as saying the burial appeared to be unplundered by grave robbers.

"According to initial indications, this great funerary monument is sealed and has not been plundered," she said. "We believe it is 6.5 meters high and 8 meters in diameter." This would be about half the size of the Atreus tomb.

At nearby Dimini, some 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) west of Volos, Adrymi has excavated a Mycenaean settlement associated with Iolkos, city of the mythical hero Jason."

The Mycenaean tholos tomb consists of a circular, subterranean burial chamber, sometimes referred to as the thalamos, roofed by a corbelled vault and approached by a dromos (entrance passage) that narrows abruptly at the stomion (doorway) actually opening into the tomb chamber. The chamber or thalamos is built of stone rather than simply being hewn out of bedrock. Tholoi of this kind are usually, though not invariably, set into slopes or hillsides. Burials were either laid out on the floor of the tomb chamber or were placed in pits, cists, or shafts cut into this floor.

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1580 Copy of Book of Saints Found in Russia

"A biography of saints published in 1580, presumably issued by first Russian publisher Ivan Fedorov, has been found in Ufa.
The volume is one of first ten books issued by the ancient publisher. No such rarities exist in any of the museum collection in Bashkortostan.

The book that is in a very good condition has survived to the present day in an attic of an old house. The book still has a bronze pin left intact, while the book cover has a single minor crack only. The book is printed in the Greek and old Slav languages on watermark paper. The book produces a strong impression given its unique editor's culture, an excellent two- colour filigree print and a high level of its drawings.

The house where the rare book was found had once been owned by Dean of the Voskeresensky cathedral, rector of the Ufa Seminary Evgraf Yevarestov, who was killed by Bolsheviks during the 1917-1918 revolution in Russia. " If you enjoyed this post, never miss out on future posts by following me by email!

Archaeologists find 1,400-year-old tomb of Anglo-Saxon king

"The discovery of an Anglo-Saxon king's burial chamber complete with a lavish collection of treasures was more than any archaeologist would hope to find beneath a verge in the Southend suburb. Described yesterday as 'a once in a lifetime discovery' it is hoped the chamber in Essex will provide a unique insight into life and death in the Dark Ages."

"More than 60 beautifully preserved objects from bronze cauldrons and gold foil crosses to glass jars, copper buckles, a sword and a shield were dug from the site and taken to conservation laboratories for analysis. The body itself had been eaten away over the centuries by the acidic soil that seeped in." If you enjoyed this post, never miss out on future posts by following me by email!