Archontiko lies between ancient Pella and modern Giannitsa. The site includes a toumba-trapeza and 4 cemeteries (W, S, SW, N), used from the late IA to the early Hel period. The West cemetery is the best known and parts of it have been investigated in a number of plots (9?) covering a total area more than ​​11 acres (Chrysostomou & Chrysostomou 2012, 239). The total number of burials of all periods are 1001. The Late Iron Age period is defined in the Archontikon publications as covering the years from the second half of the 7th c. BC until 580 BC. The A period is considered to extend from 580 to 480 BC (AEMTH 2009) therefore the burials from 580-480 BC are not included in this database. 260 burials (Chrysostomou & Chrysostomou 2012, 239) have been attributed to the Late Iron Age. The deceased were buried in family groups already after the middle of the 7th c. BC till the early Hel period and mainly in pit graves (see AEMTH 2008, 126). The orientation of the graves is the same for males and females (AEMTH 2009, 195). Inhumation predominates. However, in 2000, 3 secondary cremations in urn are mentioned. In AEMTH 2005 the existence of EIA burials is also reported; it is not clear whether there has been a change of view in the date of the earlier burials of the cemetery. The (49) "EIA burials" (cf AEMTH 2005) are reported to include pit graves and rarely cist graves. One grave contained a double burial. 7 graves were unfurnished, while 27 graves are undiagnosed. Female burials have been identified on account of jewellery and loom weights (16 burials), while the male burials due to the presence of weapons and the orientation of the deceased towards W (7 burials). The graves of the Late Iron Age have one or two vases, rarely 3 or 4. The most common shapes include drinking vases (kantharos with one or two handles, cups), handmade bowls. Pouring vessels (oenochoai, jugs, hydria), storage vessels (amphorae, amphoriskoi, pithoid vases) as well as cooking pots and feeding-bottles are less frequent. The jewellery include bronze fibulae, bronze or iron pins, beads, rings, earrings, armlets, amber beads or in gold, one hair-coil in gold. Some gold mouth-pieces were found too. Weapons were less frequent (2 swords are mentioned for the excavation of 2002 and 2005). In 2008 (20-23 June) an illegal excavation took place in the hill 69, where the W cemetary of Archontiko is located (particularly in the plot Philtsou). From the shaft grave 705 (3.20 x 1.30m) which was oriented E-W some of the small finds were survived (a gold ring, metal tools and 4 clay vessels) and it is important because from these finds, the archaeologists could date the grave in the 6th c. and especially in the early 6th c. BC. A rescue excavation took place in the plot Tsolakidi where 40 graves were excavated and they were dated in the LIA.

Records

• 2000-2007: Systematic Excavation by P. Chrysostomou & A. Chrysostomou (Greek Archaeological Service)
  
• 2008: Rescue Excavation by A. Chrysostomou & P. Chrysostomou (Greek Archaeological Service)
  
• 2008-2009: Rescue Excavation by P. Chrysostomou & A. Chrysostomou (Greek Archaeological Service)
  

References: Primary

• Chrysostomou, A. - Chrysostomou, P. 2012. Ιωνικά bucchero από τα νεκροταφεία του Αρχοντικού Πέλλας, in Tiverios, M., Misailidou-Despotidou, V., Manakidou, E. & Arvanitaki, A., (eds.), Η αρχαϊκή κεραμική στο Βόρειο Αιγαίο και την περιφέρειά του, 700-480 π.Χ., Πρακτικά Διεθνούς Επιστημονικής Συνάντησης, Θεσσαλονίκη 2011, Thessaloniki: 239
• Chrysostomou, A. & Chrysostomou, P., 2000. Τα νεκροταφεία του Αρχοντικού Γιαννιτσών,  AEMTH 14: 475–489
• Chrysostomou, A. & Chrysostomou, P., 2008. Σωστική ανασκαφή στο δυτικό νεκροταφείο του αρχαίου οικισμού στο Αρχοντικό Πέλλας κατά το 2008, ΑΕΜΤΗ 22: 119–128
• Chrysostomou, A. & Chrysostomou, P., 2009. Δυτικό νεκροταφείο του αρχαίου οικισμού στο Αρχοντικό Πέλλας: η σωστική ανασκαφική έρευνα του 2009, ΑΕΜΤΗ 23: 195–196
• Chrysostomou, A. & Chrysostomou, P., 2010. Αρχοντικό Πέλλας. Δυτικό Νεκροταφείο, ArchDelt 65, Chr.: 1340–1347
• Chrysostomou, P. & Chrysostomou, A., 2005. Ανασκαφή στη Δυτική Νεκρόπολη του Αρχοντικού Πέλλας κατά το 2005, AEMTH 19: 435–436
• Chrysostomou, P. & Chrysostomou, A., 2007. Ανασκαφή στο Δυτικό Νεκροταφείο του Αρχοντικού Πέλλας κατά το 2007: η ταφική συστάδα του πολεμιστή με τη χρυσή μάσκα και άλλες ταφικές συστάδες, AEMTH 21: 83–85

References: Secondary

Written Sources

• None