Dendra: Chamber Tomb 12

Chamber Tomb 12 at the site of Dendra, is most famous as being the tomb from where the Dendra Panoply came from, and like that panoply, dates to around the end of the 15th century BC. Unlike the rest of the chamber tombs at Dendra, this one is unique in not having a 'dromos' (a long narrow passage way) leading to the tomb proper, instead it had an entrance shaft. The roof of the chamber had collapsed, and it was also looted shortly before being excavated, which disturbed the skeleton of the single male burial. The only artefacts that were found in the area of the tomb that had been robbed were gilded rivet heads for a sword, a bronze cup handle, and part of a bronze comb. The rest of tomb housed, as well as the panoply, a bronze mirror, weapons, silver cups and various other vessels. The quality of the Mycenaean metalworking that was found in the tomb,as well as the nature of it, all add to the argument that whoever was buried here was of a high social status.