Archaeologists excavating a Mycenaean necropolis near the town of Aigio in western Greece have uncovered an untouched chamber tomb filled with jewelry, bronze objects and a large collection of intact pottery, one of the standout discoveries from this year’s excavation season.
The find was announced as researchers wrapped up the first phase of this year’s dig at the Trapeza plateau, a site eight kilometers (5 miles) southwest of Aigio that is identified with ancient Rhypes, a city of Achaea that flourished in the early historical period.
Andreas G. Vordos, an archaeologist with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaea who is directing the research, said the Mycenaean tomb, listed as tomb 9, had never been looted.
His team found the last burials placed inside it, along with grave goods that included mostly whole pieces of pottery, as well as jewelry and bronze items, he told the local Greek news media based in Aigio.
Family tombs in Mycenaean cemetery held jewelry and pottery for generations
The cemetery was in use for centuries, beginning in the 14th century B.C. and continuing until the end of the Mycenaean world in the late 12th century B.C. Vordos said it functioned as a burial ground for generations of the same family line, with members of one clan buried together inside a single tomb.
Samples have been sent to Leipzig for analysis to help identify the relationships among those family members, and specialized publications are expected to follow.
A newly excavated Mycenaean tomb near Aigio yielded rare jewelry, pottery and bronze finds from an ancient family cemetery. pic.twitter.com/E0ycSjPj9A
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) September 1, 2026
The dig is being carried out with permission from Andreas Filippopoulos, who owns the property. Vordos said the team limits its work to areas where farming will not be affected, and the site is restored each year once excavation ends for the season.
Nearby prehistoric settlement shows ties to western Greece
Research at the cemetery and a nearby prehistoric settlement is being led by Elisabetta Borgna, a professor at the University of Udine and a longtime collaborator of Vordos. The settlement, located 500 meters (1,640 feet) from the Trapeza plateau, is older than the cemetery and partly overlaps with it in time, dating back to around 2000 B.C.
Two trenches opened at the settlement have revealed houses, a large public building and infant burials beneath the floors, a practice Vordos described as common for the period.
Researchers say the settlement shows ties to other prehistoric sites across western Greece, while the Mycenaean cemetery shares connections with necropolises and palace centers in eastern Greece, including bronze weapons believed to have originated from palace workshops.
Tradition holds that the surrounding region of Aigialeia once fell under the control of Agamemnon.
Second excavation phase to focus on ancient Rhypes’ marketplace
Vordos initially expected the excavation to conclude last year, but new discoveries prompted its continuation, and he now believes this will be the final season. A complete volume covering the cemetery findings is planned once the work is finished.
A second phase of excavation begins in early September and will focus on the historical-era city of ancient Rhypes, its marketplace, and a building identified as the city’s “heroon,” which has already produced significant finds and sculptures from the classical period. Rainer Jung, a Mycenaean pottery specialist from Vienna, is also contributing to the research.
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