The tumulus at Gunaikokastro covered inhumations and cremations in cinerary urns. 542 cinerary urns were discovered within enclosures ("τυμβίσκοι"). The enclosures seem to have been used by families. Later burials have been added to the periphery of the enclosures expanding their limits. Two rectangular structures have been uncovered too: the first included cinerary urns within its angles; these were again used by families. The total height of the amount of stones (forming a kind of big tumulus) is more than 1m, covering an area of ca. 450 sq.m. At the NW limits of the tumulus a thick ash layer was discovered that covered an area of ca. 50 square meters. In this area there are no cinerary urns but cist graves without grave goods that belong to the later cemetery. The excavation data, the thickness of the ash layer and the abundance of the bones indicates that here was an area of subsequent pyres. Savvopoulou (2001, 172) suggests that this ash layer may have been connected with funerary rites (another possibility is that this was the area of cremation of the deceased). Cremation and inhumation were both practiced in the tumulus. Inhumations (85 are mentionned but include also the later burials) were found within the tumulus limits. Cist graves, pit graves, carved into the soft rock and, in one case, a burial pithos are reported. According to the excavator, the size of the graves may indicate that these were used both for adults and children (children burials show a concentration towards the S-SE limit of the burial ground). Whether an anthropological study was or will be conducted is not known. Remains from older burials ("ανακομιδαί") is a common practice and they are usually found at the narrow side of cist graves. Outside of the core of the core of the cemetery, from 800 to 1000 m of distance, 3 other cist graves have been found, containing inhumations of adults.

Records

• 1984-1994: Rescue Excavation by Th. Savvopoulou (Greek Archaeological Service)
  

References: Primary

• Savvopoulou, Th., 1987. Ένα νεκροταφείο Πρώιμης Εποχής Σιδήρου στο Παλιό Γυναικόκαστρο του Κιλκίς, ΑΕΜΤΗ 1: 305–311
• Savvopoulou, Th., 1988. Νεκροταφείο Π. Γυναικόκαστρο Κιλκίς, AEMTH 2: 219–229
• Savvopoulou, Th., 2001. Παλαιό Γυναικόκαστρο. Το νεκροταφείο των "περιβόλων", in N.Chr. Stampolidis (ed.), Καύσεις στην Εποχή του Χαλκού και την Πρώιμη Εποχή του Σιδήρου, Athens: 169–185

References: Secondary

• Chavela, K., 2012. Τα Ταφικά Έθιμα ως Δείκτης Διακοινοτικών και Διαπολιτισμικών Επαφών στο Χώρο της Κεντρικής Μακεδονίας κατά την Εποχή του Σιδήρου, in N.Chr. Stampolidis, A. Kanta & A. Giannikouri (eds.), ATHANASIA. The Earthly, the Celestial and the Underworld in the Mediterranean from the Late Bronze and the Early Iron Age, International Archaeological Conference, Rhodes 2009, Heraklion: 312–313
• Savvopoulou, Th., 2004. Η Περιοχή του Αξιού στην Εποχή του Σιδήρου, in N.Chr. Stampolidis & A. Giannikouri (eds.), Το Αιγαίο στην Πρώιμη Εποχή του Σιδήρου, Πρακτικά του Διεθνούς Συμποσίου, Ρόδος, 1-4 Νοεμβρίου 2002, Athens: 310–312

Written Sources

• None