Subway work in Greece unearths ancient gold wreath

Phys.org ^ | 01-25-2013 | Staff

[Red Badger]

Excavation work during construction of a new subway network in Greece's second largest city has discovered an ancient wreath made of gold that was buried with a woman some 2,300 years ago.

Archaeologists say Friday's find in Thessaloniki occurred on the site of an ancient cemetery in the west of the northern port city. A total 23,000 ancient and medieval artifacts have been found during archaeological excavations connected with the construction since 2006.

Archaeologist Vassiliki Misailidou said the olive branch wreath made of gold was buried in a simple, box-shaped woman's grave. It dates to the late 4th or early 3rd century B.C.

Another eight golden wreaths were discovered in a single grave four years ago during subway work. The much-delayed construction project is expected to be finished in 2017.

[Red Badger]

From Greek Reporter:

The ongoing dig for the Thessaloniki subway system has uncovered another gold wreath, which was found during the last excavation for what will the Republic Station stop.

The wreath was found inside a large box-type Macedonian tomb on the head of a buried body. The discovery was confirmed by the Athens News Agency, K.B. Misailidou, Director of 16th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, who didn’t provide information regarding the quality of the wreath and its exact dating.

According to sources, the wreath and the burial date back to the Early Hellenistic Period, at the end of the fourth – early 3rd Century B.C. It is the ninth gold wreath found during the excavations for the subway in Greece’s second-largest city.

In June 2008, four gold wreaths decorated with olive leaves, gold earrings and other Hellenistic-era artifacts were discovered in one of the 700 tombs of an ancient graveyard unearthed during construction work for the subway in the Sintrivani district. The new gold finding, which was buried for 2,500 years, was taken to the workshops of the 16th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities in Thessaloniki to be cleaned and studied.

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2013/01/28/ancient-gold-wreath-in-thessaloniki-subway/

[Red Badger]

GGG Ping!.........

[George from New England]

I thought Greece was bankrupt — how is it they are building another subway system??

[Red Badger]

I dunno.....Maybe it’s private?.......

[knarf]

Thank God you've found them ... my wife's been going crazy snce she discovered them missing after our vacation.

Please FReepmail me and I'll provide an address that you can send them to us

Again ... thanx for finding them.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I thought Greece was bankrupt — how is it they are building another subway system??

Maybe they got public transit carbon credits from the Albert Gore Foundation. :)

[BenLurkin]

Is the stain underneath the fellow who was wearing it?

[Parley Baer]

“Maybe they got public transit carbon credits from the Albert Gore Foundation. :)”

Via Al Jazeera. Hahaha.

[diogenes ghost]

This is really great news for Greece. Just last week I saw a guy waving a sign in front of a store that BUYS GOLD!

Selling that stuff to that store will surely solve the Greek fiscal crisis. Then they can get rid of that troublesome austerity crap.

[BipolarBob]

Maybe it’s the network of Subway Sandwich Shops they were digging the foundation for?

[deks]

An unrelated, but similar, Greek Gold Olive Wreath circa 4th century B.C.

[American in Israel]

Archaeology is a fancy word for state approved grave robber.

[painter]

WOW!!

[Harold Shea]

I`m like you,guess they feel if it is sooo very

long ago its alright to loot a grave.

She was someones loved one after all

[Prospero]

Archaeology is a fancy word for state approved grave robber.

That's a good point, on so many levels, but you've got to admit it's better than just the scrapping blade of the road crew. The bureaucrats bare the greater sin.

[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
Thanks Red Badger. Friday's find in Thessaloniki occurred on the site of an ancient cemetery in the west of the northern port city. A total 23,000 ancient and medieval artifacts have been found during archaeological excavations connected with the construction since 2006... the olive branch wreath made of gold was buried in a simple, box-shaped woman's grave. It dates to the late 4th or early 3rd century B.C. Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.