Archaeology Magazine Archive

A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America

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In July 2009, ARCHAEOLOGY's Eti Bonn-Muller visited the Iron Age necropolis of Orthi Petra at Eleutherna on Crete and toured the site with excavation director Nicholas Stampolidis and his team. The rough footage provides a unique look at the site's beauty as team members describe their work.



Introduction to Orthi Petra
With Nicholas Stampolidis
Begin your tour of the necropolis with an explanation of the site's unusual name and an overview of 25 years of archaeological investigation.


Tomb of the Priestesses
With Nicholas Stampolidis
Explore the monumental funerary building that housed the remains of a wealthy and powerful high priestess and her three protégés, all from the same family.


A1K1 Warrior Tomb
With Antonis Kotsonas
Peek into the elaborate rock-cut tomb of 141 cremated individuals, all but two of whom were male warriors who received burials fit for Homeric heroes.


Inhumations, Cremations, Jar Burials, and Dog Skeleton
With Anagnostis Agelarakis and Eva Mitaki
(in Greek and English)
Learn how Orthi Petra's everyday citizens were buried and about the dog that accompanied one individual to the afterlife.


Examining Finds at the Dig House
With Nicholas Stampolidis and Anagnostis Agelarakis
Listen in as two experts discuss artifacts from the priestesses' tomb, including
a recently unearthed gold medallion and a delicate ceramic jar with a braided handle.

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