There is an ongoing argument as to where the Tholos originated from. It should be noted that circular tombs are found all over the Mediterranean including, for example, Spain. But it is Crete that is presumed to be the likely source of the Mycenaean Tholos tomb. And as Ioannis mentioned the prime examples for this come from the tholoi at Mesera.

The Mesera tholoi were all built during the MMI to MMIII period (some might have been used into the early part of LMIIIA). The earliest known example of a Mycenaean Tholos tomb, is from Koryphasion (in Messenia) and has been dated, using radio-carbon dating, to the Middle Helladic period. There is then some overlap between the end of the tholoi tombs at Mesera and the beginning of the Mycenaean form in Messenia. This is a period in which it is believed that Crete and Messenia were particularly close.

BUT there are some major differences between the Mesara tholoi and the later Mycenaean ones. For instance, there are four main structural differences between these earlier tholoi on Crete and the later mainland Mycenaean examples. Firstly the Mesara tholoi are all built above ground whereas the Mycenaean ones are all either subterranean or built into hill sides. Secondly the Mycenaean examples (if the top of the tomb was conspicuously above ground) were all covered with a mound of earth. Even though the Mesara tholoi were built above ground they were never covered in such a way. Thirdly all Mycenaean tholoi, even the larger ones, were all roofed with a corbelled vault in stone. Some of the smaller tholoi of Mesara seemed to have been roofed but the larger ones seem not to have had a full stone vault. Finally it should be noted that the Mesara tholoi were all entered from a small doorway on the east side of the tomb and apart from one exception (the MMII Tholos B at Archanes) were not entered via a passageway. On the other hand all Mycneaean tholoi were entered via a dromos (passageway) and through a large impressive doorway (see picture below). The Mycenaean tholoi were also mostly used for 'princely' (aristocratic) burials while on Crete the Mesara form was used by all of the population.

So were the Minoans responsible for the Mycenaean tholoi? It is possible that traveling craftsman from Crete developed this form of burial from their own. But the many differences between the two could also indicate (more probably) a totally independent development in Messenia.


Dromos and doorway of the Treasury of Atreus