APXAIOΛOΓIKO EPΓO ΘEΣΣAΛIAΣ KAI ΣTEPEAΣ EΛΛAΔAΣ, 2003-2005
ΑΠΟ ΤΟΥΣ ΠΡΟΪΣΤΟΡΙΚΟΥΣ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΝΕΩΤΕΡΟΥΣ ΧΡΟΝΟΥΣ

Περίληψη ομιλίας

Preliminary results of the Survey at the Kastro of Kallithea, Achaia Phthiotis, Thessaly.

Athanasios Tziafalias

[Ephor, 15th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities in Larissa]

Margriet J. Haagsma

[Assistant Professor in Classical Archaeology, University of Alberta, Canada]

Sofia Karapanou

[Archaeologist, 15th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities in Larissa]

Sean Gouglas

[Assistant Professor in Humanities and Computing, University of Alberta, Canada]

This paper will present the first results and a preliminary synthesis of a survey on the Kastro at the village of Kallithea in Achaia Phthiotis. This new project started in 2004 and is carried out by a team of the 15th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities at Larissa and the University of Alberta in Canada. The Kastro, which according to Friedrich Staehlin, can be identified with the ancient city of Peuma, is located on a 600 meter high hill with two hilltops overlooking the plain of Almiros from its western side. Goal of the project is to obtain insight in the urbanization processes in this region by studying the occupation span and spatial development of the site and to research its changing political and economic roles. The methologies employed in this project are: architectural survey, archaeological survey and GIS. At present, one third of the site has been surveyed and measured. The site occupies an area of ca. 34 hectares and is surrounded by a 2.6 kilometer stretch of fortified walls intersected with towers and two major city gates. At its interior a small older acropolis can be found. The larger area of the city consists of a regular pattern of small streets and larger avenues which define housing blocks and possible industrial areas. In the central area of the city a small agora was located which is surrounded by a stoa, a possible bouleuterion or prytaneion and several smaller structures. The architectural and archaeological surveys revealed multiple building stages at the site. The earliest identified thusfar is represented by the acropolis, which probably dates to the early Classical period. The exterior enceinte, the regular street pattern, housing blocks and the major buildings at the agora all date from the later 4th century BCE. It became clear that some of the 4th century buildings were reused at a later stage. The survey finds suggest that this occupation phase can be probably dated to the later 3rd or 2nd century BCE but further research is necessary to confirm these dates. It is theorised that the fortification of the site in the later 4th century BCE is related to the changing political and economic relationship between the poleis of Pharsalos and Halos during this period.