The 2008 season
Archaeological survey - South Plateau
Ceramic densities and in-situ architectural fragments in the squares of the south plateau.
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In the south plateau, we have investigated the area directly east of the ancient
agora and as far as the western limits of the village of Vasiliko. The generally low
visibility in the apricot groves which dominate in the area has impeded the recovery of artifacts.
In tracts with medium to high visibility, density exceeded 500 sherds per squares
and in some cases 1,000 sherds per square, as in SP93 to the south-southeast of the agora,
and in SP102.02 almost at the center of the area that we have covered. Also of interest
are squares SP85.01 to 85.05, just 15 m north-northeast of the long stoa, where the
numbers of tiles are much higher than those of sherds. In this case, this may be due
to the spoil heaps produced from the old excavations of the agora which over the
decades spread in the surrounding area together with the roof tiles that they no doubt contained.
Side of an ancient city block in SP 89.04.
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Corner of a structure made of rubble, brick and mortar in SP 85.15.
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Most prominent of these are the remains of a bath complex, built of mixed masonry,
which includes a central apse and a transverse hall. The whole covers an area larger
than 350 m2 and is preserved to a maximum height of 3 m.
Among the dozens of scattered architectural members, again primarily ashlar blocks,
we recorded many bricks, a few column drums, a fragment of an octagonal column,
an anta capital, and several marble pieces.
Remains of a bath complex in Special Tract 7.
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The central apse of the bath complex in ST 7.
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Detail of the masonry of the bath in ST 7.
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Anta capital in SP 103.03.
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Scattered architectural blocks in SP 103.
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Re-used mortarium of an olive press in SP 93.
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Ceramic densities and in-situ architectural fragments in the squares of the south-eastern knoll.
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Among the movable finds, we recorded many grindstones, a few mortaria of olive
press installations, slags, loomweights, lamps, and glass pieces. A surprising
discovery was an almost intact saucer (mortarium) of an olive press, with
interior grooves, nowadays used as a trough.
At the south-eastern knoll of the plateau, we investigated the sloping
field exactly to the south-southeast of the ancient and medieval fortification (SP 107),
as well as the strongly inclining north-northwest slope of the hill as
Special Interface Tract 2.
In SP107, ceramic density was low (below 50 sherds per square) contrary
to the density of roof tiles which was relatively high due to the proximity of the wall.
At the north-eastern slope of the hill (SIT2) we have mapped successive retaining walls,
built in order to create artificial terraces for cultivation, most likely of olives.
Special Interface Tract 2, below the northeastern side of SP 82.
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Ancient retaining wall in SIT 2.02.
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On one of these terraces, we found a millstone of an olive press, most likely in situ.
Among scattered architectural pieces we retrieved a Doric capital of Classical date.
Miliarium of an olive press in SIT 2.02.
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Doric capital from SIT 2.01.
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