Dendra

Dendra
Δενδρά (Greek)

The Tholos Tomb at Dendra
Shown within Greece
Location Dendra, Argolis, Greece
Coordinates 37°39′21″N 22°49′43″E / 37.65583°N 22.82861°ECoordinates: 37°39′21″N 22°49′43″E / 37.65583°N 22.82861°E
Type Settlement
History
Periods Early Bronze Age to Mycenaean
Site notes
Ownership Public
Management 4th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities
Public access Yes
Website Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Dendra (Greek: Δενδρά) is a prehistoric archaeological site situated outside the village with the same name belonging to the municipality of Midea in the Argolid, Greece.

The site has a history stretching back at least to the early Bronze Age and is significant for the Bronze Age cemetery excavated by Swedish archaeologist Axel W. Persson in the first half of the 20th century. Persson excavated an unplundered tholos tomb and many Mycenaean chamber tombs, presumably belonging to the ruling classes having their dwelling at the nearby citadel of Midea.

One of the many chamber tombs of the Dendra necropolis

Subsequent excavations (following partly successful attempts to plunder the unexcavated tombs) unearthed the unique and exquisite Dendra panoply of bronze armour, currently exhibited at the Archaeological Museum in nearby Nafplio. Later excavations also brought to light Bronze Age tumulus burials which included sacrificed horses.

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