Gold-plated Bronze Wreath
This wreath was found in the grave of a boy who died around 300 BC.
Gold-plated wreaths appear in tombs from the 5th century BC as a more affordable substitute for solid gold wreaths.
Around twenty gilded wreaths have been discovered in the cemeteries of Abdera. Their stems are made of lead or bone, the leaves of bronze, and the fruits of clay. The plant species represented are mainly olive and myrtle.
These wreaths were placed on men and young children, most likely boys aged 4–7 years. Notably, they were not merely deposited in the grave as offerings; the deceased were buried wearing them. This practice reflects beliefs connected to the afterlife and the honouring of the deceased among the righteous.