Shaft graves are rectangular grave shafts for the (princely) corpse, deepened into the ground or rock. In Mycenae, there are two large shaft grave districts (A and B). According to the legend, this could indicate an early double kingship in Mycenae. Both have a diameter of 28 m each. Compared to the richly equipped tomb round A with its six shaft tombs, the 14 shaft tombs and 12 flat tombs in tomb round B show little remarkable in comparison, except for an electron mask and a vessel made of rock crystal. The time of the shaft graves ended in the 16th century B.C. Between the 15th and 13th century B.C., the members of the upper class were buried in dome graves. Of the nine domed tombs located west and southwest of the castle, four were named after representatives of the legendary Atridean dynasty: Atreus, Clytemnestra, Aigisthos, and Orestes. Two domed tombs are closely connected with the work of Schliemann and his Greek wife Sophia: the "domed tomb of Clytemnestra" (ca. 1220 BC), where she led the excavations, and the "treasure house" or "domed tomb of Atreus" (ca. 1250 BC).
"From the very beginning, Mr. Schliemann showed the tendency, contrary to my opinion, to destroy every Greek and Roman building, so that only those houses and graves which in his opinion were Pelasgian would remain and be preserved. And when pieces of Greek and Roman times are discovered among the fragments of clay vessels and idols, he shows aversion to them". (Stamatakis, 1876 - original in New Greek)