Milas-TKİ Kazıları Işıkdere Oda Mezarı [MILAS-TKİ EXCAVATIONS: IŞIKDERE CHAMBER TOMB

Abstract

ABSTRACT A chamber tomb was discovered and excavated in the Işıkdere district of the village of Karacaağaç, du- ring Milas-TKİ excavations. The grave had been plundered at an unkown time. It consists of a stepped dromos, an anterior chamber, a main grave chamber and a secondary adjoining grave chamber. The main and adjonining chambers have been completely carved in the rock. In a similar way, the anterior chamber has been also cut in the rock, but its roof covered with stone slabs. The door slabs were been used on both entrance of the anterior chamber. The grave rooms contains 5 rock-cut sarcophagi. A silver Alexander s Drachma helps for dating the grave probably in the beginning of the last quarter of the 4th Century B.C. Underground grave chambers with stepped dromos are peculiar in a limited area of Milas-TKI excavati- ons, near Keramos, in Carian region. The Işıkdere chamber tomb is the only known rock-cut example of these type of graves.