Macedonian Tombs of Katerini

The Macedonian Tombs of Katerini were uncovered during clay extraction works north of the city. They belong to the tradition of monumental Macedonian funerary architecture from the 4th–3rd centuries BC: barrel-vaulted burial chambers with carved stone facades and painted decoration, built for the aristocratic families of the Macedonian kingdom.

The Katerini tombs are not as famous or as large as the royal tombs at Vergina (where Philip II of Macedon was buried), but they form part of the broader Pierian funerary landscape from the Macedonian period. Archaeological finds from the Katerini area, including pottery, coins, and personal ornaments, are held in the Pieria Archaeological Museum. The exact visiting arrangements for the tomb sites should be checked with the local ephorate of antiquities; some Macedonian tomb sites in the region have restricted access.

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Two Macedonian tombs were discovered north of Katerini during construction work to extract clay. Macedonian tombs are monumental barrel-vaulted burial chambers built for the Macedonian nobility during the 4th and 3rd centuries BC — the same era as Alexander the Great. The Katerini tombs are smaller than the famous royal tombs at Vergina but architecturally significant, with painted facades and carved stone thrones preserved inside.