The site of the EIA cemetery of Kastas Hill corresponds to the famous monumental tumulus erected over the recently Macedonian chamber tomb. The hill lies opposite to the ancient city of Amphipolis and on the foot of "Hill 133", where traces of occupation extend from the N to the Rom period. The EIA cemetery has been revealed by D. Lazaridis when he did some trenches on the visible periphery of the monumental tumulus between the 1960s and the 1980s. Graves from the EIA to the Hel period were found. At least, 18 EIA burials (10th to the 8th c. BC) are associated with two layers of stones (construction no 1 and 2) covering a preserved surface up to 12 m large (Prakt 1977, 42-45). The burials include secondary cremations in urn (at least one), burnt remains, inhumations in pithos or unburnt deposits (primary or secondary burials ?). The construction no 1 contained at least 13 burials (among them 5 pithos-burial, a secondary cremation in urn, 7 burials covered with stones -- burnt or unburnt ? primary or secondary deposit ?). The construction no 2 contained at least 5 burials (among them 4 pithos burials and 1 burial found between the stones - burn or unburnt ?). The discoveries are not fully published and the exact number of burials as well as the burial practice are not clearly specified. The excavations are old and the remains complex due to the continuous use of the cemetery in later periods of time. Inhumation in cist graves prevailed in Kastas Hill cemetery during the 7th c. BC. The offerings were not published in detail. Numerous jewellery (fibulae, pins, bracelets, bronze pendants, gold hair-coils, etc.) and some vessels (jugs, cups) are mentionned. In the construction no 1 the secondary cremation was in an handmade local amphora with fluted decoration dated between the 10th and the 8th c. and associated with 2 iron swords of type Naue II.

Records

• 1960-1980: Systematic Excavation by D. Lazaridis (Greek Archaeological Service)
  

References: Primary

• Lazaridis, D. 1964, PAE: 35
• Lazaridis, D. 1965, PAE: 46
• Lazaridis, D. 1976, PAE: 97–98
• Lazaridis, D. 1977, PAE: 42–45
• Lazaridis, D., 1997. Amphipolis, Athens: 73–74

References: Secondary

• Koukouli-Chrysanthaki, Ch., 1993. Η Πρώιμη Εποχή του Σιδήρου στην Ανατολική Μακεδονία, Αρχαία Μακεδονία V, Vol. I: 682–684
• Triantaphyllos, D. & Terzopoulou, D., 1996. Ταφικοί τύμβοι της Θράκης, Συμπεράσματα ανασκαφικών ερευνών, AEMTH 10B: 932
• Valla, M., 2005. Νεότερα ευρήματα από το νεκροταφείο του Αγίου Χριστόφορου Σερρών, AEMTH 19: 115

Written Sources

• None