Mycenaean Tholos Tombs & Early Mycenaean Settlements

[polymathy]

circular, subterranean burial chamber roofed by a corbelled vault and approached by a dromion
usually in slopes/hillsides
burials in shafts, pits, or cists
nine tholoi at Mycenae
Aegisthus, Atreus, Clytemnestra, Lion Tomb, Tomb of the Genii,

Treasury of Atreus:
relief sculpture on the stomion
rectangular side chamber opening off the main tomb chamber, principle burials probably placed here
two fragments of relief sculpture which feature bulls

all tholoi at Mycenae found robbed

Mycenaean tholoi were covered by an earthen mound if their uppermost portions protruded above ground
huge portal doorways
Dickinson & Cavanagh deny any connection between earlier Mesaran tholoi & later Mycenaean tholoi
DP says the time gap has been narrowed to minimal or nonexistent
DP attributes all architectural differences to aboveground vs belowground

Dickinson dates 6 of the 9 tholoi to 1500-1450
so probably not independent kings, maybe corollary royal branches