Christos Tsountas

{{Main|Mycenae#Excavations}}

{{Main|Mycenae#Excavations}}

[[File:EB1911 Mycenae - plan of the citadel.jpg|alt=Archaeological diagram of Mycenae|thumb|A 1911 plan of the excavated areas of the citadel of Mycenae, showing many of the structures discovered by Tsountas]]

[[File:EB1911 Mycenae - plan of the citadel.jpg|alt=Archaeological diagram of Mycenae|thumb|A 1911 plan of the excavated areas of the citadel of Mycenae, showing many of the structures discovered by Tsountas]]

Following the excavation of [[Grave Circle A, Mycenae|Grave Circle A]] at [[Mycenae]] under the German businessman [[Heinrich Schliemann]] and Stamatakis in 1876–1877, Tsountas took over the site from May 1886 until 1910.{{refn|{{harvnb|Voutsaki|2017|p=130}}; {{harvnb|Masouridi|2017|p=148}}; {{harvnb|Shelton|2006|p=159}} (for the dates); {{harvnb|Shelton|2006|p=163}} (for the Great Ramp).}} He made the first excavations in the [[Prehistoric Cemetery (Mycenae)|Prehistoric Cemetery]] around the settlement of Mycenae and carried out the first major excavations of its [[acropolis]],{{Sfn|Shelton|2010|p=25}} where he uncovered the Great Ramp,{{sfn|Shelton|2006|p=163}} cleared the slopes of the citadel and uncovered a large proportion of its buildings.{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|p=159}} Tsountas's discovery of [[Ancient Egypt]]ian material, including seven [[faience]] plaques bearing the name of the pharaoh [[Amenhotep III]],{{Sfn|Kelder|2009|p=346}} on the acropolis gave the first definitive evidence of the site's date in the Late Bronze Age ({{Circa|1600|1200 BCE}});{{Sfn|Moore|Rowlands|Karadimas|2014|pp=42–43}} it had previously been dated only in vague terms, often described by travellers in terms such as "of the most ancient date", or considered to date to various periods around 1000 BCE.{{Sfn|Moore|Rowlands|Karadimas|2014|pp=41–42}}

Following the excavation of [[Grave Circle A, Mycenae|Grave Circle A]] at [[Mycenae]] under the German businessman [[Heinrich Schliemann]] and Stamatakis in 1876–1877, Tsountas took over the site from May 1886 until 1910.{{refn|{{harvnb|Voutsaki|2017|p=130}}; {{harvnb|Masouridi|2017|p=148}}; {{harvnb|Shelton|2006|p=159}} (for the dates).}} He made the first excavations in the [[Prehistoric Cemetery (Mycenae)|Prehistoric Cemetery]] around the settlement of Mycenae and carried out the first major excavations of its [[acropolis]],{{Sfn|Shelton|2010|p=25}} where he uncovered the Great Ramp,{{sfn|Shelton|2006|p=163}} cleared the slopes of the citadel and uncovered a large proportion of its buildings.{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|p=159}} Tsountas's discovery of [[Ancient Egypt]]ian material, including seven [[faience]] plaques bearing the name of the pharaoh [[Amenhotep III]],{{Sfn|Kelder|2009|p=346}} on the acropolis gave the first definitive evidence of the site's date in the Late Bronze Age ({{Circa|1600|1200 BCE}});{{Sfn|Moore|Rowlands|Karadimas|2014|pp=42–43}} it had previously been dated only in vague terms, often described by travellers in terms such as "of the most ancient date", or considered to date to various periods around 1000 BCE.{{Sfn|Moore|Rowlands|Karadimas|2014|pp=41–42}}

The main purpose of Tsountas's initial excavations of 1886 was to discover the palatial centre of the site of Mycenae.{{Sfn|Klein|1997|p=250}} In that year, he cleared the majority of the citadel, discovering the palace and {{Transliteration|grc|[[megaron]]}} and excavating the [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic]] temple built atop the [[acropolis]]; he would later remove the temple's remains, as well as most of those from post-Mycenaean periods, to further reveal the Bronze Age palace.{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|pp=160–161}} In the same year, he excavated on the western slope of the citadel, in the area of a Hellenistic tower, and uncovered a building complex later identified as part of the site's "Cult Centre".{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|p=161}}

The main purpose of Tsountas's initial excavations of 1886 was to discover the palatial centre of the site of Mycenae.{{Sfn|Klein|1997|p=250}} In that year, he cleared the majority of the citadel, discovering the palace and {{Transliteration|grc|[[megaron]]}} and excavating the [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic]] temple built atop the [[acropolis]]; he would later remove the temple's remains, as well as most of those from post-Mycenaean periods, to further reveal the Bronze Age palace.{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|pp=160–161}} In the same year, he excavated on the western slope of the citadel, in the area of a Hellenistic tower, and uncovered a building complex later identified as part of the site's "Cult Centre".{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|p=161}}

In 1887, Tsountas commenced his excavations of the cemeteries outside the citadel of Mycenae, considering the graves excavated in Circle A to be "royal" and consequently seeking to find what he considered the burials of the rest of the site's population. Between 1887 and 1898, Tsountas excavated 103 [[Mycenaean chamber tomb|chamber tombs]] and three previously unknown {{Transliteration|grc|tholos}} tombs (known as the [[Tomb of Aegisthus]], the Panagia Tholos and the Tomb of the Genii), while he also cleared four {{Transliteration|grc|tholoi}} that had already been discovered.{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|pp=162–163}} In 2006, Tsountas's excavations represented just under half of the total number of chamber tombs excavated at Mycenae, though the sparse documentation made by Tsountas has limited their use for archaeological study.{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|p=163}}

In 1887, Tsountas commenced his excavations of the cemeteries outside the citadel of Mycenae, considering the graves excavated in Circle A to be "royal" and consequently seeking to find what he considered the burials of the rest of the site's population. Between 1887 and 1898, Tsountas excavated 103 [[Mycenaean chamber tomb|chamber tombs]] and three previously unknown {{Transliteration|grc|tholos}} tombs (known as the [[Tomb of Aegisthus]], the {{Interlanguage link|Panagia Tholos|de|Panagia-Tholos}} and the {{ill|Tomb of the Genii|de|Grab der Genien (Mykene)}}), while he also cleared four {{Transliteration|grc|tholoi}} that had already been discovered.{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|pp=162–163}} In 2006, Tsountas's excavations represented just under half of the total number of chamber tombs excavated at Mycenae, though the sparse documentation made by Tsountas has limited their use for archaeological study.{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|p=163}}

In 1888, Tsountas made further excavations of the palace, as well as in the eastern part of the citadel, particularly the North East Extension and Mycenae's subterranean [[cistern]],{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|p=161}} which he discovered.{{Sfn|Muskett|2014|p=43}} Excavations here continued in 1889, during which time Tsountas made further explorations of the south-western part of the citadel, uncovering a series of buildings over several seasons of work but making little record of them. In 1890, he cleared the northern and north-western slopes of the city; by 1893, he had progressed to the North Gate. In 1895 and 1896, he cleared the eastern and western slopes of the acropolis, and returned in 1896 to the south-western slope. This left unexcavated only a small area on the western slope of the citadel, now known as the "Citadel House" area.{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|p=161}}

In 1888, Tsountas made further excavations of the palace, as well as in the eastern part of the citadel, particularly the North East Extension and Mycenae's subterranean [[cistern]],{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|p=161}} which he discovered.{{Sfn|Muskett|2014|p=43}} Excavations here continued in 1889, during which time Tsountas made further explorations of the south-western part of the citadel, uncovering a series of buildings over several seasons of work but making little record of them. In 1890, he cleared the northern and north-western slopes of the city; by 1893, he had progressed to the North Gate. In 1895 and 1896, he cleared the eastern and western slopes of the acropolis, and returned in 1896 to the south-western slope. This left unexcavated only a small area on the western slope of the citadel, now known as the "Citadel House" area.{{Sfn|Shelton|2006|p=161}}