The 2006 season
Archaeological survey - South Plateau
In the southern plateau we continued our previous investigations moving eastwards
and covering squares SP30.1 to 53.6. Here we noticed a significant difference in the
ceramic density between the northern and southern part of the area that we covered.
In the northern part (SP30-40) we recorded densities in the range of over 2,000 sherds
per square, whereas in the southern part, along the Asopos gulley, average density dropped
below 500 sherds per square. In addition, in this southern part the number of tiles often
exceeded and occasionally doubled the number of pottery fragments. This is most likely due
to a lack of long-term habitation in this area and the proximity of the city-wall;
the latter case accounts for the large number of tiles, mostly of Lakonian and some
of Corinthian type, in three contiguous squares. Ceramic wasters, which apparently
belong to the same, large industrial area that we located in previous seasons,
were found in small concentrations over many tracts. It is noteworthy that we did
not retrieve any wasters from the southern part of the area we covered.
Absolute sherd and rooftile counts from the 2004 to 2006 seasons in the South Plateau.
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Distribution of architectural fragments from the 2004 to 2006 seasons in the South Plateau.
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Many architectural remains, both scattered and in situ, were found across the area and are usually
usually segments of walls built of ashlar blocks and integrated within the ancient grid.
In one square we located a wall built of rubble and mortar, manifestly of Roman
or post-Roman date, while elsewhere we discovered part of the city-wall, oriented northwest-southeast,
that is parallel to the edge of the plateau on this side. This discovery confirms our
belief that the wall surrounded the entire plateau, including its southern, more abrupt, side.
High erosion rates along this side account for the obliteration of the line of the city-wall.
(See the geo-archaeological report.)
Among the rest of the finds, which include fragments of two Doric columns and mosaic floors, as well as a section of a stone channel, most significant
are the pieces of plaster, usually red, which were found in certain squares of tracts
SP30, 32, and 35. In the same area, geophysical survey picked up a large residential
unit with inner court.
Corner of a building in SP 46.3.
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Part of the city-wall in SP 45.4.
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Fragment of a Doric column drum in SP 22.5.
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Part of a stone channel in SP 41.3.
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