Greek sarcophagus found near Kerch, Crimea

The Greek colonies around the Black Sea have been the subject of earlier debates and blog-posts (see: The many colonies of Miletus). In that context, it became important to focus particularly on the territories colonized by Miletus on the Kerch peninsula (western side of the Cimmerian Bosporus) and the Taman peninsula (eastern side of the Cimmerian Bosporus).

[Credit: Myrmekion Expedition of the State Hermitage Museum, 

taken from The Archaeological News Network]

The earliest settlements on the Crimea date from the second half of the 6^th century BC around Myrmekion near the city of Kerch. Until now, only about ten Greek tombs had been found in the Crimea and were discovered prior to 1917.

It was a great surprise to find new burial sites during this year’s excavations. Among them, one small tomb measuring approximately 0.70m x 0.40m was cut from one single piece. When it was opened, it turned out to be empty but, strangely enough, it had not been robbed either – a puzzling situation for archaeologists because it had been securely sealed with a stone slab.

Evidently, scientists are speculating about the reason for creating an empty tomb. It may have had a mere symbolic function, or it may have contained ashes. An archaeological expedition of the State Hermitage Museum in Russia is investigating this case further.

It never ceases to amaze me that new discoveries keep raising ever more questions!