In Photos: Ancient Greek Tomb with Zigzag Art Discovered

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A tomb

2,800 year-old Greek tomb yields beautiful pottery, zigzag art

(Image credit: Photo courtesy American School of Classical Studies)

Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Corinth, in Greece, have discovered a tomb that dates back about 2,800 years. It was recently published in the journal Hesperia. The tomb contains a limestone sarcophagus, seen here, and several pottery vessels with zigzagging designs. The sarcophagus itself contained the remains of a single person who only had some bone fragments preserved.

2,800 year-old Greek tomb yields beautiful pottery, zigzag art

(Image credit: Photo courtesy American School of Classical Studies)

Several jars were found beside the sarcophagus itself. This example is decorated with zigzagging lines and a meandering pattern that looks like a maze. This style was popular in Greece around 2,800 years ago and archaeologists often refer to this time as Greece’s “Geometric” period.

Good condition, beautiful details

2,800 year-old Greek tomb yields beautiful pottery, zigzag art

(Image credit: Photo courtesy American School of Classical Studies)

This example, also found near the sarcophagus, has well preserved neck handles that look like they’re curled up. If you look closely you can see that this vessel also has a meandering maze like pattern which is preserved faintly near the top.

A surprising find

2,800 year-old Greek tomb yields beautiful pottery, zigzag art

(Image credit: Photo courtesy American School of Classical Studies)

In the tomb archaeologists also found a niche sealed with a limestone slab. When they opened the niche they found 13 vessels almost completely intact.

A matching set

2,800 year-old Greek tomb yields beautiful pottery, zigzag art

(Image credit: Photo courtesy American School of Classical Studies)

This image show a plate found in the niche. It has a wavy zigzag pattern on its outer edge and a cross-like pattern at center.

Beautiful pottery

2,800 year-old Greek tomb yields beautiful pottery, zigzag art

(Image credit: Photo courtesy American School of Classical Studies)

Another vessel from the niche. This one has a finely preserved wavy zigzag pattern at top along with a row of dots.

A different pattern

2,800 year-old Greek tomb yields beautiful pottery, zigzag art

(Image credit: Photo courtesy American School of Classical Studies)

Another example from the niche, this one contains dots and an interesting pattern that looks like a crisscross.

Owen Jarus
Owen Jarus
Live Science Contributor

Owen Jarus is a regular contributor to Live Science who writes about archaeology and humans' past. He has also written for The Independent (UK), The Canadian Press (CP) and The Associated Press (AP), among others. Owen has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from Ryerson University.