Part II. The Grave Circle
In 1950 and 1952, in view of recent discussions about the date of the Grave Circle, we decided to make some fresh soundings in its supporting wall to see if any fresh evidence could be obtained. In the first year the work was confined to soundings in the battered supporting wall on the south side opposite the north-east corner of the House of the Warrior Vase, and was undertaken by Mr. Kenneth Rowe. In 1952 further soundings were made in the battered supporting wall, the wall at its base on the west was further examined, and a sectional cut was made across the double ring of standing slabs on the north-east side about midway between the entrance and the then surviving cover slabs. The work was then directed by Dr. F. H. Stubbings.At the time of Schliemann's excavations the western part of the double ring of vertical poros slabs of the Grave Circle, which rests on the battered supporting wall, was in a very ruinous condition. This can be seen clearly in Schliemann's illustration and in the photographs published later. After the close of Schliemann's and Stamatakes' excavations the supporting wall was restored both on the west and on the south, and the western half of the double ring of standing slabs was reconstructed. When Keramopoullos excavated the fallen rock in the centre of the circle the Greek Archaeological Service undertook some further work of conservation.