The rich finds from the excavations in the necropolis of the ancient city date back to the archaic, classical and Hellenistic periods. The oldest burials, dating back to the 7th and 6th centuries. BC (archaic period), they were cremations of adults, while the few burials in earthen pits (inhumation) belong to children. The rich ceramic findings, mainly flat panels (plates) decorated with vivid paintings, belong to a characteristic rhythm of eastern Doria and are attributed to the "workshop of Nisyros", although it does not seem likely that they were produced on the island.
An extensive cemetery of the classical times (4th century BC) has also been excavated in the area of Ai-Yiannis, while tombs from the same period have also been found on the southern side of the hill of Paliokastro. These are burials in large clay pithos (imfusions) and in clay sarcophagi. Abundant gifts accompanied the dead on their posthumous journey, among which stand out red-figured or mauve vases, (most of which were imported from Attica), numerous clay figurines and few jewels. From the beginning of the 3rd c. p. X. rectangular box-shaped tombs are built for the burial of the dead. The offerings include mainly clay and less glass vessels.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou