Nichoria

Nichoria is a site in Messenia, on a ridgetop near modern Rizomylos, at the northwestern corner of the Messenian Gulf [1]. During the Helladic period it was part of the Mycenaean civilisation [1]. Nichoria became subordinate to Pylos and lost the use of its megaron [1]. Nichoria was a major outpost of Pylos's "Trans-Aigolaia" province [1]. Nichoria was destroyed in the same event which claimed the main palace at Pylos [1]. The University of Minnesota Messenia Expedition under William Andrew McDonald surveyed the area in the 1960s, and began excavating Nichoria in 1969 [1]. On the foot of the Nichoria acropolis there was discovered a burial circle, comprising a collective burial of 7 people; it was in use until the LH IIIA period, when the adjacent large tholos tomb was built [1].