Dendra

Dendra Δενδρά
Location
Coordinates	37°39′21.216″N 22°49′42.792″E / 37.65589333°N 22.82855333°E / 37.65589333; 22.82855333Coordinates: 37°39′21.216″N 22°49′42.792″E / 37.65589333°N 22.82855333°E / 37.65589333; 22.82855333
Period	EBA to Mycenaean
Country	Greece
Region	Argolis
Elevation	73 m (240 ft)

The Tholos Tomb at Dendra

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.

Sources

• P. Mack Crew, J.B. Bury, I.E.S. Edwards, C.J. Gadd, John Boardman, and N.G.L. Hammond. The Cambridge Ancient History: c.1800-1380 B.C Vol. II, pt. 2: c.1380-1000 B.C. (Cambridge University Press), 1975. ISBN 0521086914