Part of an unknown Iron Age cemetery came to light in 7 building plots in Nea Eukarpia between 1996 and 2002. The publication of this extensive cemetery in AEMTH 2002 offers a preliminary general description of the burials, and we may find further details in the chronicles of the Deltion. In total, 437 graves have been identified. They don't follow a specific orientation. The majority of the graves are inhumations in pit graves covered by schist slabs (or without a cover). There are also some pit graves covered by sherds of pithoi, pits covered with cairns of stones, some slab cists, a few boulder cists (ArchDelt 56-59 (2001-2004), B’3A, 57) and some enchytrismoi in pithoi (ArchDelt 54 (1999), B’2, 547 fig. 37). The cremation are secondary deposits in urns, placed vertically in pits covered by slabs or cairn (like the inhumation graves). One case of slab cist is reported (Lambrothanassi-Korantzi et al. 2002, 250). It is noteworthy that as cinerary urns jugs with cut-away neck, amphorae and an open vessel with comb-like terminal on handle have been used. It is mentionned that 8 graves (2 simple pits, 3 pits covered with slabs, 3 pits covered by sherds of pithoi) were covered by a cairn of schist slabs (Lambrothanassi-Korantzi et al. 2002, 249). In the chronicle of 2002, other piles of schist slabs were discovered but their chronology and function are not specified. The deceased are in extended supine position. No evidence for the sex of the deceased was provided. Some classification of the graves was made on the basis of the age of the deceased but it's not clear whether this was based on an anthropological study. Over 40% of the graves is estimated to have belonged to child burials (this percentage according to the excavators is compatible with percentages of other child burials from other cemeteries of this period). The burials that included grave goods are ca. 40% of the total number and most of the burials had one or two objects, the rich tombs are rare. The grave goods are reported to have included EIA vessels such as wheelmade kantharos-shaped vessels, painted cups and also later shapes such as handmade phialai with horizontal handles and a painted skyphoid vessel (one drinking vessel [cup?] is reported to have been decorated with pendent semicircles). Other grave goods, besides pottery, is metal jewellery -- bronze and iron figure rings, bronze bracelets, armlets, pins, fibulae, earrings, beads as well as an impressive collar with pointed terminals, bronze disks gold-plated (only in child graves) and a bronze mouth-piece (in an adult burial). A very few iron knives and spindlewhorls. The amount of jewellery and rings in some burials like the T. 55/1998 9 28th Oktovriou Str. are worth noting (vase, bronze biconical bead, 2 bronze bracelets, 3 bronze and 4 iron rings, iron dagger or knife), T. 42/1999 12 M. Alexandrou Str. (vase, bronze biconical bead, iron bracelet, 5 bronze and 9 iron rings).

Records

• 1996: Rescue Excavation by (Greek Archaeological Service)
  
• 1998-1999: Rescue Excavation by (Greek Archaeological Service)
  
• 2001-2002: Rescue Excavation by (Greek Archaeological Service)
  

References: Primary

• Lambrothanasi-Korantzi, E., Papagianni, E. & Poloukidou, Ch., 2002. Ν. Ευκαρπία Θεσσαλονίκης: Το νεκροταφείο της Εποχής του Σιδήρου, AEMTH 16: 249–256
• Lambrothanassi, E., 1996. Οδός Χρ. Σμύρνης και Μ. Αλεξάνδρου, ArchDelt 51, Chr.: 436
• Lambrothanassi, E., 1998. Θέση Παλαιόκαστρο, Ο.Τ. Γ72, ArchDelt 53, Chr.: 577
• Lambrothanassi, E., 1999. Οδός Μεγάλου Αλεξάνδρου 12, ArchDelt 54, Chr.: 547–548
• Lambrothanassi, E., 2001-2004. Oδός 28ης Οκτωβρίου 7 (οικόπεδο Σ. Μακαβαίου), ArchDelt 56-59, Chr.: 17–18
• Lambrothanassi, E., 2001-2004. Οδός Μ. Αλξάνδρου 4, ArchDelt 56-59, Chr.: 57–58

References: Secondary

• Havela, K., 2012. Τα Ταφικά Έθιμα ως Δείκτης Διακοινοτικών και Διαπολιτισμικών Επαφών στο Χώρο της Κεντρικής Μακεδονίας κατά την Εποχή του Σιδήρου, 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: 308–312

Written Sources

• None