eTheses Repository - University of Birmingham

5.4.4: Case Study D: Artemision-Ayios Ilias (26) and Milea/Milia (28)
Artemision–Ayios Ilias (26) is a small rounded hill to the north of the plain of Mantinea, the
northern section of the modern plain of Tripolis (Map 5.6, Fig.5.17). The plain in this area is
essentially flat, unlike the southern section, the plain of Tegea, which is more undulating
today and certainly was in the past (Knut Ødegard pers. com). From the summit nothing can
be seen of the surrounding landscape due to the Aleppo pines which, like similar trees planted
on Nestani-Paniyiristra (30), are a relatively recent addition, but the hill may very well have
been wooded in the past (Fig. 5.18). It was on this hill that a small cemetery was located,
which consisted of cist graves and pithos burials that housed single interments. These graves
have been dated to the Late Geometric period by pottery sherds, as well as by a number of
vessels that were once considered as Mycenaean by Fougeres (1898, p.118) but which were
later identified as Geometric (Howell 1970 n.10; Morgan 1999, p.390). In addition, the burial
types are characteristic of this period and found in many parts of Greece.
Fig.5.17: view of Artemision-Ayios Ilias (centre) from Ptolis looking N (photo: author).
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