25 burial enclosures were found at Tsikalario, only 17 of which were excavated and only 2 of them were found non plundered. The enclosures, built of huge granite blocks, were mainly circular and their diameter varies from 5 to 12 m. They enclosed cist or shaft graves (occasionally more than one), pyres with offerings and other structures. The access to the site was through a road network, with two main roads, S and SE of the cemetery. An upright slab of 3.20 m. high, stood at its NE entrance as a kind of "menhir". A building, situated at the NE of the necropolis (Building A, s.f. sancuary 7_94), has been linked with chthonian cults, while a complex of rooms at the SW of the necropolis (Complex B, s.f. sancuary 7_39) has been linked with funerary ceremonies. In 2012, the site Tsikalario-Epano Kastro was declared as protected site in order for the Ephoria to protect the cemetary of the G period, a part from the fortification wall of the A period, and the cemeteries in the sites "Sklaves" and "Alonia" that have been dated in the G and A period respectively.

Records

• 1963: Systematic Excavation by Ntoumas Chr. (Greek Archaeological Service)
  
• 1965-1966: Systematic Excavation by Zaphiropoulou Ph. (Greek Archaeological Service)
  
• 2012: by I. Lagaki (Greek Archaeological Service)
  

References: Primary

• Charalambidou, X., 2008-2009. The pottery from the Early Iron Age necropolis of Tsikalario on Naxos: preliminary observations, A.I.O.N., Nuova Serie N. 15-16: 57–69
• Charalambidou, X., 2011. Quantitative analysis of the pottery from the Early Iron Age necropolis of Tsikalario on Naxos, in S. Verdan, Th. Theurillat & A. Kenzelmann Pfyffer (eds.), Early Iron Age Pottery: A quantitative approach, Proceedings of the International Round Table organized by the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece, Athens, November 28-30, 2008, Oxford: 139–147
• Charalambidou, X., 2013. Συμβολή στη γνώση των αρχαίων ναξιακών ταφικών εθίμων: το ταφικό σύνολο 11 από τη νεκρόπολη του Τσικαλαριού, in I.K. Promponas & St.E. Psaras (eds.), Πρακτικά του Δ΄ Πανελληνίου Συνεδρίου με Θέμα «Η Νάξος δια μέσου των αιώνων», Κωμιακή, 4-7 Σεπτέμβρη 2008, Athens: 77–98
• Legaki, I., 2012. Μέτρα προστασίας αρχαιολογικών θέσεων και μνημείων -γ, ArchDelt 67, Chr.: 722
• Ntoumas, Chr., 1963. Νάξος. Στ' Αλωνάκια, ArchDelt 18: 279–280
• Papadopoulou-Zaphiropoulou, Ph., 1966. Νάξος, ArchDelt 21, Chr.: 391–395
• Papadopoulou, Ph., 1965. Νάξος, ArchDelt 20, Chr.: 514–515
• Zaphiropoulou, Ph., 2008-2009. The tumulus necropolis at Tsikalario on Naxos, A.I.O.N. Nuova Serie 15-16: 49–55

References: Secondary

• Coldstream, N.Chr., 2003. Geometric Greece, London: 92
• Themelis, P.G., 1976. Frügriechische Grabbauten, Mainz am Rhein: 84

Written Sources

• None