GREECE PELOPONNESE ARGOLIS KOKLA

The "Kokla tholos tomb" lies on a very low hill about 5 km south-west of Argos outside the small village of Kokla and overlooks the northern part of the Argolic Gulf (at least you can see it on the horizon). It is accessible on a small dirt road, but not signposted and therefore quite hard to find without further information as to its exact location.

The tomb is in a remarkably deplorable condition. The 23 m long dromos with overgrown entrance and the 5.4 m wide tomb chamber with collapsed ceiling are covered by a construction of timber beams and metal plates that itself is disintegrating and thus no longer helps to protect the monument. Trying to climb into this unsafe mess is definitely not recommended. Altogether, it is a shame how Greek authorities neglect such a cultural heritage.

The tomb is dated to Late Helladic IIB-IIIA at the end of the fifteenth century BC, just prior to the Mycenaean Palatial period. It was found unlooted and contained precious finds - gold, silver and ivory objects with Minoan and Mycenaean influences - but no human remains. It was part of an extensive necropolis of which nine chamber tombs and five pit graves have been excavated, but I did not see any of these.

What confuses me: why is it called a tholos tomb? It is completely underground and has all characteristics of a chamber tomb cut out of the rock (for details of Mycenaean burials see here). There is but one hint to a tholos tomb: in one corner of the tomb chamber are some remains of masonry (see below right).