In October 2024, systematic archaeological research was completed in the Chiliomodi region of Corinth as part of the exploration project of Ancient Tenea. This year, for the first time, a Hellenistic-period funerary monument with architectural features similar to those of Macedonian tombs was discovered in the area—a finding of great significance for understanding the funerary and religious practices of antiquity in this region of Greece.
The funerary monument has an asymmetrical T-shaped floor plan and consists of two main sections: an entrance corridor measuring 2.80 meters in length by 1.20 meters in width and a main burial chamber measuring 2.75 meters by 7.40 meters. The latter, rectangular in shape and oriented north-south, is perpendicularly connected to the corridor on its eastern side.
The entrance to the tomb is through a relatively narrow, partially covered passage, which was originally sealed with a rectangular slab. It has been identified that part of the entrance lintel was reused from an earlier structure.
Inside the burial chamber, a large monolithic sarcophagus and five rectangular funerary niches were found along the walls. Two of these niches showed clear signs of having been looted in antiquity, while the others no longer retained their original covers. Only the sarcophagus contained human skeletal remains in anatomical position, corresponding to an adult, presumably a woman, while the remains in the other niches were disordered.
A peculiar finding inside the sarcophagus was the presence of a large quantity of domestic animal bones, including a turtle shell, suggesting the existence of ritual practices associated with healing or funerary worship.
The significance of the discovery is reinforced by the large number of objects found inside the monument and in its surroundings, dating mainly from the Hellenistic period to the Roman era.
Among them, a gold ring with a semiprecious stone seal depicting Apollo with a healing serpent stands out, along with two gold coins replicating the Hellenistic coin types of Sicyon, a votive offering in the shape of a terracotta finger, fragments of a gold wreath, small ceramic vessels from the Hellenistic period, a silver tetradrachm of Philip III Arrhidaeus, iron tools such as styluses and knives, bronze ornaments, glass beads, and perfume containers of various shapes.
Excavations outside the monument also revealed important architectural elements and structures associated with the necropolis. Notable among them is a section of a paved road extending from north to south, as well as a stone enclosure measuring 6.50 meters by 4.10 meters. Within the fills of the enclosure, votive offerings in the form of terracotta fingers with suspension holes and fragments of a ceramic arm were recovered, suggesting the existence of a sanctuary linked to healing cults.
Additionally, various scattered architectural elements were found in the area, including a capital, fragments of a balustrade, and parts of an architrave, which may have belonged to a structure visible in antiquity, such as a small funerary temple or commemorative monuments of the necropolis.
The Ancient Tenea research program, carried out by the Directorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of the Greek Ministry of Culture under the supervision of Dr. E. Korka and archaeologist P. Evangeloglou, included a multidisciplinary team of experts in numismatics, anthropology, and photogrammetry. During the excavation campaign, advanced 3D documentation and photogrammetry techniques were applied to record structures, objects, and human remains.
In addition to the work in the necropolis, the research extended to the residential area of the ancient city, where new structures from the Roman and Late Roman periods associated with daily life and artisanal production were identified.
Among the most notable findings is a rectangular kiln in excellent condition, with an underground combustion chamber and an elevated firing chamber. Its radial heating system and perforated grid indicate that it was a highly specialized ceramic kiln.
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