Mycenaean Tombs as Evidence for Social and Political Organisation.1

Summary. A chronological and spatial analysis of Mycenaean tomb types is presented in the belief that burial practices reflect the social and political changes which occurred during the Late Helladic period. Interpretation of the evidence is complicated by the degree of regional diversity. However, it is suggested that the practices of the Middle Helladic period were not as simple as has been supposed and foreshadow the innovations of the early Mycenaean period which were inspired by political motives. The increasing standardisation in tomb types in LHIII was conditioned by the emergence of the Mycenaean palace system, the collapse of which engendered the changes seen in LHIIIC.