A 3500-year-old unlooted tomb of a Mycenaean warrior was unearthed by a group of international archaeologists in the city of Pylos, Greece. The remnants of an unknown warrior were found together with a trove of treasure with over 1,400 items in counting. It includes bronze, silver and gold relics, weapons, jewels and armours.
"This previously unopened shaft grave of a wealthy Mycenaean warrior," one of the team members Dr Shari Stocker said. "Dating back to 1500 BC, is one of the most magnificent displays of prehistoric wealth discovered in mainland Greece in the past 65 years."
The artefacts were found while the team was digging in the area within the well-known Palace of Nestor, which was unveiled in1939 covert with olives. Based on the analysis, the remains could have been an influential person - a warrior, a king, trader or raider - aging between 30 and 35 years old.
The treasures inside can also be an indication of its wealth. For instance, the tomb's vessels were made of metal. The scientists expressed astonishment, as even the grave gifts contained no ceramic materials, but are filled with bronze, silver and metals, even the cups, pitchers and basins.
"This member of the elite was accompanied in the afterlife by about 50 seal-stones carved with intricate Minoan designs of goddesses as well as depictions of bulls and human bull jumpers soaring over their horns," Stocker said. Other items found were also four golden rings with Minoan cravings, an ivory plaque with a carved griffin, a legendary animal that protected royals, and a mirror made of bronze with an ivory handle.
Weapons excavated were a 3.3-foot long sword with an ivory handle, some daggers, a spear, and other sword and daggers with gold hafts. There were also bronze thin bands presumably a part of body armour or suit and a helmet with a number of teeth from wild boars.
With all of these discoveries, scientists believe, and all the more thrilled, that they are given some clues to the evolution of the Mycenaean civilization, Odyssey and other heroes in Homer.
