“The Fieldwork of the Canadian Institute in Greece, 2007,” Mouseion 8.2 (2008): 241-264

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241

THE FIELDWORK OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE IN GREECE, 2007

DAVID RUPP

For the sixth consecutive year, the Director has benefited from the oppor-tunity to present a condensed version of the Institute’s annual Open Meeting Report so that the archaeological fieldwork conducted under the Institute’s auspices in 2007 can be made available especially for Canadian readers.1

The Institute’s research activities (fig. 1) included pedestrian sur-vey (Antikythera, Eastern Boeotia and Karystos Euboea), excavations (Ayia Sotira and Kastro Kallithea) and study seasons (Argilos, Karystos, Euboea and Zaraka).

Figure 1: Map of the Aegean Basin with the locations of the fieldwork and

study season of the CIG permit holders.

1 I thank the editors of Mouseion for publishing this report and Jonathan

Tomlinson for his assistance in preparing it. In addition, I wish to thank Dr. Re-nata Wielgosz, the Canadian Ambassador, and her able staff at the Canadian Em-bassy in Athens for its continuing support of our annual open meetings. The con-tinuing diligence and verve of the Assistant Director, Dr. Jonathan Tomlinson, enabled us to be most productive, indeed. We were helped by the Alfoldi-Rosenbaum Fellow, Allison Surtees, by the University of Waterloo intern, Laura Roncone, and a volunteer, Carolin Puzinas. For the summer of 2008 we were joined by Kayla Feehan and Shiyanthi Thavapalan, undergraduate interns from York University.

242 DAVID RUPP

FIELDWORK AND STUDY SEASONS IN 20072

1. ANTIKYTHERA

James Conolly (Trent University, Ontario) and Andrew Bevan (University College, London) and their colleagues had a very successful, final field season of the Antikythera Survey Project (ASP).3 They acknowledge the important assistance and participation of Aris Tsaravopoulos of the 26th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities in the ongoing progress of the ASP.4

Project personnel were on Antikythera for three weeks between June 15th and July 6th. During this period they completed the Stage-Two data collection or the mapping and systematic sampling by 10 m grid squares of surface artefacts from strategic locations of greater archaeological signifi-cance. They also carried out a comprehensive terrace mapping, tomb planning and soil sampling across the island. Thereafter, various ASP per-sonnel spent five weeks studying the survey finds in their apotheke on neighbouring Kythera. In brief, the highlights of their work this year were as follows:

• The completion of the Stage-Two grid collections of prehistoric scatters. Some 57 different locales were gridded in nearly 2,000 10x10 m squares. These areas were typically places where higher-density prehistoric mate-rial (by far the most poorly known and currently least recognized phases

2 I wish to express the Canadian Institute’s warm thanks and deep appreciation

to the Minister of Culture, Mr. Michalis Liapis, the General Secretary of the Minis-try, Mr. Theodoris Dravillas, and in the Archaeological Service, to the Director General, Ms. Vivi Vassiliopoulou, and the Director of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Ms. Elena Korka, the Director of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments, Ms. Ioanna Koltsida-Makri, and in the Foreign Schools Section, Evangelos Nikolopoulos and Tina Gourvellou. Further, we are indebted to the Di-rectors of the 11th, 15th, 18th, 26th, 28th, and 37th Ephorates of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Drs. Rozina Kolonia, Athanasios Tziafalias, Zisis Bonias, Eleni Konsolaki-Giannopoulou, Eftichia Ligouri, Ekaterini Peristeri, and Alexandros Mantis, and their staff archaeologists, especially Aris Tsaravopoulos, Sophia Kara-panou, and Maria Chidiroglou, who have worked with our members, for their gen-erous help and essential support over the past year. Without the aid, expertise, and friendship of our Greek colleagues, the Institute’s research programme would not be in its present healthy condition. The members of the Institute thank them, indeed.

3 For previous discussions, see D.W. Rupp, “The Fieldwork of the Canadian In-stitute in Greece, 2006,” Mouseion 7 (2007) 131–134, and “The Fieldwork of the Ca-nadian Institute in Greece, 2005,” Mouseion 6 (2006) 204–207.

4 The assistance and the support of Ms. Eftichia Ligouri, the Proistamenos of the 26th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, is acknowledged.

THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE IN GREECE, 2007 243

on the island) was recovered during stage-one survey (i.e., tract-walking). The permanent artefact collections retrieved from these units offer an ex-cellent vantage from which to consider site size, date and function. • Petrographic study of 200 prehistoric sherds and a first stage macro-scopic analysis of the entire dataset of prehistoric pottery. • Analysis of the Medieval, Venetian and early Modern pottery assemblage by Joanita Vroom (Sheffield University). • The completion of their high resolution mapping (fig. 2) of the ca. 12,000 terraces on the island (as vector polylines) for our complementary con-cerning the historical geography of the island. To their knowledge this is the only high-precision dataset of its kind for a complete region in the Mediterranean.

Figure 2: Map of Antikythera displaying the results of the “Terrace Map-

ping Program” of the ASP.

• Finding preliminary evidence for multiple phases of terracing in different parts of Antikythera, including probable Late Roman and possible Bronze Age components. • The recording of a full set of interviews with the remaining permanent inhabitants of the island about past land use and terracing strategies. Im-portant information was also recovered from the UK National Archives (Colonial Records) on 19th century population, land use strategies, crop yields, etc.

244 DAVID RUPP

• The creation of a photo archive and species list of modern plants on neighbouring Kythera for comparative purposes, and the establishment of collaborative links with Greek ecologists working on Kythera and Anti-kythera, ahead of fieldwork on Antikythera in spring 2008. • Sampling, geo-chemical profiling and infiltration testing of soil deposits at 100 locations across the island. The samples are now undergoing nutri-ent analysis at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. Secondary samples were archived in order to build a control dataset for phytolith study. • The construction of their website in Greek and English and the public dissemination of our primary datasets.

They are, thus, now in a position to offer some preliminary thoughts about the island’s long-term settlement history.

The earliest identifiable evidence of human activity on the island dates to the Late to Final Neolithic (5th to 4th millennia BC), for which they have both diagnostic projectile points, and also tiny, concentrated scatters (less than 0.25 ha) of chert and obsidian artefacts (fig. 3). Small amounts of Final Neolithic to Early Bronze I pottery are associated with many of these scatters (with a few knapped stone artefacts suggesting an earlier Late Neolithic phase for which they have not found surface pottery).

Figure 3: Sample of the obsidian and chert artefacts collected by the ASP

at Late to Final Neolithic scatters on Antikythera.

The beginning of a more substantial and differently configured settle-ment is hard to date without further study, but might begin as early as the Early Bronze Age II period (ca 2900–2200 BC) or immediately thereafter.


It certainly seems established by the First Palace period (ca. 1900–1750 BC) and continues through the Second and Third Palace periods (traditionally, ca. 1750–1450 and 1450–1200 BC. These Minoan and Mycenaean palatial period scatters are larger (typically, between 0.25 and 0.5 ha), relatively tightly-focused and compositionally consistent with what might be per-manent, single-family farmsteads (with occasional variations that suggest their final explanations eventually may need to be more subtle). They have documented 25 to 30 such scatters on the basis of diagnostic pottery, dis-persed in looser clusters of two or more discrete scatters each.

The next obvious phase of settlement occurs about a millennium later, most prominently in the Hellenistic period (ca.323–146 BC) when the is-land is dominated by a fortified town (ca. 7 ha) at a strategic position on its northern coast, overlooking the natural, protected harbour at Xeropo-tamos. Documentary evidence refers to the town and island as Aegila and points to its role in piracy. Indeed, the town’s location is not best-placed in terms of the island’s main agricultural areas, but well-positioned for access to the busy Hellenistic shipping lanes running between the Pelo-ponnese and Crete, and east-west between the Aegean and central Medi-terranean.

The town’s sack by the Romans in ca. 64 BC seems to have prompted a dramatic decline in activity and they do not find evidence for similarly extensive levels of surface finds until much later, in the Late Antique and Early Byzantine period (ca. 5th–7th century AD). By this time, they can document 4–5 denser clusters of material, often accompanied by small groups of contemporary cist graves, each at the heart of a more fertile re-gion of the island. Most of these appear to be relatively small, perhaps several families at most, but the one above the modern town of Potamos (Zampetiana) suggests a larger village-sized cluster.

Further abrupt discontinuity in the island’s settlement pattern is ar-guably visible in the following two centuries, followed by a period of re-newed exploitation by around the 12th century, with some interesting ma-terial appearing at a variety of locations across the island. Again, their pottery study is still at a preliminary stage, but the following periods are represented by limited numbers of finds that suggest much lower level activity again (and perhaps little if any permanent settlement) up until the historically documented re-colonization of Antikythera in the late 18th century.

The Greek and English versions of their project’s website are complete and can be accessed at: www.tuarc.trentu.ca/asp. This also includes free access to some of their primary datasets.

246 DAVID RUPP

2. ARGILOS In 2007 the Greek-Canadian archaeological mission, led by Jacques Per-reault (Université de Montréal) and Zisis Bonias (18th Ephorate of Prehis-toric and Classical Antiquities), at Ancient Argilos (fig. 4) in eastern Ma-cedonia5 was mainly focused on the study of archaeological finds, in view of its publication as well as the conservation of the buildings and their development.6

Along with this study, there was an excavation of the im-mediate surroundings of the big Hellenistic oil mill on the acropolis. In addition, with the erection of the metal structure that will cover the build-ing they had to get on with clearing the immediate surroundings of the building. This took place during the months of June and July. A dozen plus students took part.

Figure 4: View of the excavations in the Southeast Sector at ancient

Argilos, Macedonia.

5 For previous references, see D.W. Rupp, “The Fieldwork of the Canadian In-

stitute in Greece, 2006,” Mouseion 7 (2007) 134–136, and “The Fieldwork of the Canadian Institute in Greece, 2005,” Mouseion 6 (2006) 207–211; S.A.H. Kennell, “The Fieldwork of the Canadian Institute in Greece, 2004,” Mouseion 5 (2005) 290–293, “The Fieldwork of the Canadian Institute in Greece, 2003,” Mouseion 4 (2004) 336–341, “The Fieldwork of the Canadian Institute in Greece, 2002,” Mouseion 3 (2003) 198–202.

6 The assistance and support of Ms. Ekaterini Peristeri, the Proistamenos of the 28th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities at Serres, is acknowledged.


The five main objectives of the study campaign were the following:

1. The study of the main categories of ceramics The researchers were mainly interested in Attic and Corinthian ceramics. The analysis of Attic black-figure pottery enabled them to better appre-ciate the development, both chronological and quantitative, of these vases in situ. These imports first appeared after 580 BC. At the beginning the vases primarily were for use in banquets, that is, craters and drinking vas-es. It is only after the second half of the 6th century BC, if not the end of the third quarter, that one can detect a true diversity in shapes and a more general use of Attic pottery. Black glazed wares were present on the site until it was abandoned in 357 BC.

They also wished to finish the description of all the Corinthian cera-mics, the study of which will form a volume of the Argilos research publi-cations. Dr Kees Neeft (University of Amsterdam) worked relentlessly to finish the description of the 7000 or so vases and fragments of this catego-ry that have up to now been found on the site. The preliminary observa-tions are interesting and instructive:

a. The all-round picture of Corinthian ceramics at Argilos is quite different from that of neighboring sites, particularly Thasos. b. The proportion of attested forms is peculiar and the case of the Corinthian craters curious. The overwhelming majority of frag-ments of this form come from the so-called “national route” sec-tor, along the coast. They are found in embankments, probably made up of unwanted material from a cultural or other public building. c. From a chronological point of view, and except for some rare fragments from the Protocorinthian period, the vast majority of these ceramics date from the Late Corinthian period, and mainly from the first half of the 6th century.

2. The study of the stratigraphic context of the national route site This project has considerably advanced. More than 100 boxes of material have been re-examined. Photographs of diagnostic material were taken. Geological sections and descriptive forms were partly done. There remains a great deal of work to be done. It should not be forgotten that this exca-vation zone is extremely rich in artefacts and that the stratigraphic con-texts cover chronological periods not known in the region, notably the 7th century, a crucial period for the site, as it corresponds with that of the arrival of Greek colonists. One can already say that the categories of ce-ramics attested to this period are more numerous than what had been observed hitherto. Along with Greek products (Cyclades and Asia Minor),

248 DAVID RUPP

there are Thracian ceramics. Further, there are other regional products, found mainly on sites in the Chalcidice area and around the Thermaic gulf. 3. The completion of the detailed study of the Argilos loom weights This research, undertaken by Valėrie Marlon, a post-graduate student at the Universities of Montreal and Lille, has made it possible to highlight the complexities of the weaving techniques adopted by the women of this colony on the Thracian coast. Statistics regarding the weight and dimen-sions of the loom weights of all the collection prove that they were pri-marily involved in the production of exceptionally fine fabrics. Moreover, a comparison between the statistics obtained from the Argilos material and that of the loom weights found in Thasos, as well as an analysis of certain morphological and functional particularities, shows in a very clear way the existence of two contemporaneous, albeit quite distinct, tradi-tions in technique fitting different production parameters and related to specific sequences of loom weights. These results prove that it is possible to reconstitute in part the technical environment of the specific textile production of each of the cities, even where no fabric has yet been found. 4. The continuation of the study of House “A” and the adjacent rooms The stratigraphic and architectural study of Rooms “D1” and “D2” is now complete. It is henceforth clear that these two rooms are in fact annexes of House “A”, “D1” being a workshop, most probably for metal work as can be concluded by the presence, in the centre of the room, of a small cavity aimed at smelting metal. As for “D2”, it was probably used as a store room. One could only reach it by a ladder placed against the bottom wall of “D1”. The completion of the analysis of the ceramics and small objects from these two rooms remains to be done. 5. The architectural study of Building “E” Cleaning the walls of this building allowed them to complete its descrip-tion and better appreciate the different phases of its construction, as well as the changes that were brought about. The clearing of the exterior side of the West wall, in its northern half, did not enable the solution of the riddle presented by the opening at the bottom of this wall. This opening runs all along the wall and is very well constructed. They believe that it was used to channel water but no clues proving this hypothesis have been found.

In addition to the above mentioned work, they have continued trying to show the remains of the buildings to their best effect and carried on with their conservation. On this subject, work was undertaken around the Hellenistic oil mill on the acropolis (fig. 5). The aim was to excavate the immediate surroundings in order to facilitate the setting up of the perma-


nent structure that is to cover the big building. Three probes were partial-ly excavated along the East wall of the oil mill. The remnants that have come to light are still too incomplete to be interpreted, but it can already be said that there were buildings at the site of the oil mill at the time of its construction, and that the walls of these buildings were partly demolished and partly reused in the construction of the new building.

Figure 5: Plan of the excavations on the acropolis of ancient Argilos with

the trenches excavated (in black) adjacent to the Hellenistic oil mill. 3. AYIA SOTIRA The excavation of the Late Bronze Age chamber tomb cemetery on the hillside of Ayia Sotira, outside the village of Koutsomadi near Ancient Nemea, was conducted during the months of late June, July, and early Au-gust 2007.7 The project operated under the auspices of the Canadian Insti-tute in Greece with permission of the Greek Ministry of Culture and over-sight by the 37th

Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities.8

7 For previous reference see D.W. Rupp, “The Fieldwork of the Canadian Insti-

tute in Greece, 2006,” Mouseion 7 (2007) 137–140.

This season’s work was directed by Robert Angus K. Smith (Brock University,

8 The assistance and support of Mr. Konstantinos Kissas, the Proistamenos of the 37th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, is acknowledged.

250 DAVID RUPP

Ontario) with the assistance of Dr. Mary Dabney and Prof. James C. Wright of Bryn Mawr College.

The cemetery (fig. 6) was discovered in the olive grove of Panagiotis Tombros in 2002 and Evangelia Pappi, on behalf of the 4th Ephorate, sal-vaged a tomb being looted (Tomb 2) that dates to the early Late Helladic IIIB1. In 2006 their team, in collaboration with Pappi, carried out geo-physical survey, surface pickup, and test trenching in the field of P. Tom-bros, and excavated three tombs (Tombs 2, 3, and 4) with material dating from LH IIIA1 to LH IIIB2. In the summer of 2007 they completed the test trenching (with the aid of a backhoe) of the P. Tombros field, removed the blocking wall from Tomb 4 (which had been partially destroyed by illicit activities over the winter), and excavated one additional tomb (Tomb 5). Overall, the location and alignment of the excavated tombs suggest that there are others yet to be discovered in fields to the north and west of our original excavation area, and we are in the process of purchasing this land in order to continue excavations in 2008.

Figure 6: Plan of the Late Helladic chamber tomb cemetery at Ayia Sotira,

ancient Nemea.

The chamber of the tomb excavated in 2007, Tomb 5, had collapsed, but the tomb was undisturbed and yielded evidence of multiple reuses. Sherd material and wholly preserved pottery indicate that this tomb was in use from LH IIIA2 until LH IIIB. Because of the extremely poor preser-vation of skeletal material only two certain individuals could be identified. The stratification of the dromos and blocking wall of the stomion (fig. 7),


however, were remarkably well preserved, and it is clear that this tomb had a complex history. The blocking wall, for example, contained four clearly defined construction phases with floor levels beneath each. In all, evidence for at least seven episodes of tomb use and reuse were identified based on stratigraphical and artefactual information. Included among these are adult and probable child burials in the chamber and the dromos, as well as an offering made by tunnelling into the tomb after the chamber had collapsed. One of the burials, from a niche on the western side of the dromos, contained no skeletal material but a total of 462 tiny stone beads were recovered when the soil was water sieved. Overall, Tomb 5 fits well into their picture of the cemetery’s use from LH IIIA1 to LH IIIB2, and cor-responds to the major periods of occupation at nearby Tsoungiza.

Figure 7: View of the blocked stomion of Tomb 5 at Ayia Sotira,

ancient Nemea.

After excavation and removal of all of the finds to the museum, and with the consent of the 37th

Ephoreia of Prehistoric and Classical Antiqui-

ties, Tomb 5 was backfilled and a layer of gravel was placed over the area of the dromos and chamber. In addition, all of the test trenches were backfilled, and excavation dumps were levelled in order to return the olive grove as much as possible to its original state. They are confident that no further tombs exist to be looted in the field of P. Tombros, but they con-tinue to be worried about looting in the area because of the almost certain

252 DAVID RUPP

presence of additional tombs in the fields to the north (where evidence for some illicit activity is already present).

4. THE EASTERN BOEOTIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT Dr. Brendan Burke (University of Victoria, British Columbia) directed the first season of the Eastern Boeotia Archaeological Project (EBAP). This surface survey ran from June 1–30, 2007, under the auspices of the Cana-dian Institute in Greece. His co-researchers on this project are Dr. Bryan Burns (University of Southern California), and Dr. Susan Lupack (Univer-sity College, London). They are working in close collaboration in a syner-gasia with Dr. Vassilis Aravantinos of the 9th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities.

The long-term goals of EBAP are to document and to interpret the evi-dence for the land use, settlement patterns and burial practices resulting from the human occupation of eastern Boeotia over an extended chrono-logical period. They have located their study specifically on the plains sur-rounding the modern villages of Arma, Eleon, and Tanagra, partially be-cause of the clear indications of significant occupation/activity and partially because this area connected the Boeotian city-state of Thebes to the eastern sea and was, therefore, a major route for external contact. Their primary research interests focus on developments during the Late Bronze Age, for which evidence in the region is clearly present, yet their methods of study include a broader analysis of the region's long-term his-tory. They are, therefore, pursuing documentation and study of all peri-ods.

Over the course of four weeks they surveyed and collected 277 units across some 20 hectares. With a focus on the elevated settlement, provi-sionally identified as Eleon (fig. 8), their method of survey was intensive. Walkers, spaced 10 m apart, covered individual transects totalling over 18 km. They were fortunate enough to detect large quantities of diagnostic artefacts in nearly every area surveyed. The walkers counted over 56,000 sherds in the field, of which nearly 7000 were retained for analysis. Pre-liminary analysis was conducted on all collected ceramic and lithic ob-jects, which are now stored in the apotheke of the Thebes Archaeological Museum. More detailed analysis focused on the material from within the walled area of Eleon. Even the region surrounding the walled settlement was relatively rich in artefact counts. Average field density was 0.45 sherds/square-meter, with only 30 fields of density higher than 1 sherd/square-meter.

Their collection and preliminary analysis of cultural material suggests three major phases of activity at Eleon: Bronze Age (including a robust Middle Helladic phase), late Classical-Hellenistic, and Ottoman. The Pre-


historic material was of a much longer range than expected from casual observation. Their collected material from the elevated area and its slopes included one very nice find that appears to be a good representative of the Neolithic period—a sherd with broad diagonal orange bands on a cream background. The site was inhabited during the LH IIIA period and it must have been occupied into the latest LH IIIB and early IIIC periods. Sub-Mycenaean and Geometric sherds also seem to be represented, but further study will be needed to identify more precisely the dates to which they belong.

Figure 8: Map of the areas surveyed by EBAP in 2007 around

the acropolis of ancient Eleon, Boeotia.

They also have a great deal of black glaze sherds, dating to the late Classical and Hellenistic periods, as well as a few black-figure pieces. Fi-nally, the site has also produced a large number of lead-glazed sherds, which are interesting in that they do not date (as was expected) to the Frankish period, but rather to the Ottoman.

In addition, they began a digital mapping project of the site of Eleon, its natural topography, and the built features preserved above the ground. In 2007 they consulted with an architectural survey team to establish a system to record Eleon’s standing remains through computer-assisted de-sign. The architects, led by Sigrid Eliason, facilitated their documentation of the site's most prominent feature, 70 meters of well preserved Lesbian polygonal masonry, sometimes up to 5 m in height, following an unusual, curved path (fig. 9). Some earlier scholars interested in the site thought

254 DAVID RUPP

the polygonal wall to be Archaic, based on the style of masonry. However, given the relative absence of Archaic material and the high concentrations of black-glazed pottery with highly articulated profiles, a major construc-tion project was more likely carried out in the later Classical period result-ing in this wall. Perhaps the history of Eretria provides a likely sequence of events, in which the 4th century BC saw an architectural revival that in-cluded sophisticated use of polygonal masonry. Understanding the func-tion of this wall will require further study and possibly excavation. Al-though there are traces of towers and entry points in the wall, the concave form and the fact that only one face of it is visible suggests the possibility that this was a retaining wall rather than a fortification wall.

Figure 9: View of the standing remains of the Lesbian

polygonal wall at the acropolis of ancient Eleon.

Survey in the region around Eleon also produced significant results. Most significant were the partial foundations of a square tower measuring 3 x 3 meters located ca. 350 meters to the west of the elevated center. Traces of a wall running to the north and south suggest the demarcation of an expanded settlement well beyond the acropolis of Eleon, perhaps during the classical period. Further to the northwest, at the periphery of the area investigated in 2007, we discovered two large concentrations of material from a building no longer in situ. Each of these accumulations included cut marble blocks that may also date to the Classical period. The initial review of ceramics, however, suggests that the majority of ceramics in this area belongs to post-classical eras.

Fixed features were also detected to the southwest, where a number of chamber tombs were located in the slopes of the hills surrounding Eleon; these tombs were apparently opened and emptied in fairly recent times. The closest parallel to these rough hewn chambers cut into the natural bedrock is found near modern Tanagra, 7 km to the south-east. The larg-est concentration of tombs around Eleon was found below the church of Profitis Eleias, where over 20 tombs were recorded and mapped in 2007.


All were heavily disturbed and devoid of ancient material. Erosion and modern damage make the exact dimensions of many difficult to discern, but one tomb was fairly intact. It features a dromos approximately 6 m long from the hillside surface to a small low entrance cut into the natural rock face. A substantial chamber is preserved within the rock face, with only material of the tomb’s modern use as a shelter evident.

5. KASTRO KALLITHEA

Figure 10: Map of the settlement plan of Kastro Kallithea (Peuma) with the

buildings excavated in 2007 indicated. The archaeological project at the Kastro at Kallithea, ancient Peuma, (fig. 10) in Thessaly9 is a synergasia with the 15th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities at Larissa. Margriet J. Haagsma (University of Al-berta) and Sofia Karapanou are Co-Directors, with the assistance of Sean Gouglas.10


stitute in Greece, 2006,” Mouseion 7 (2008) 140–145, and “The Fieldwork of the Canadian Institute in Greece, 2005,” Mouseion 6 (2006) 211–212; S.A.H. Kennell, “The Fieldwork of the Canadian Institute in Greece, 2004,” Mouseion 5 (2005) 294–301.

This year they made a start with the excavation of Building 10, a

10 The assistance and support of Ms. Anthi Batziou-Efstathiou, the Proista-menos of the 15th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, is acknowl-

256 DAVID RUPP

possible domestic structure, partly excavated Building 7 and finished the excavation of the small temple in Building 5 begun in 2005. Work took place from May 20–June 30 and in October 2007. Building 10 Building 10 measures 19.45 x 14.60 m (fig. 11). They started the excavations in the western part of the house and excavated in Units A, B, C, D and E. In this process, additional wall foundations were revealed which had con-sequences for their preliminary interpretations of the internal configura-tion of rooms and areas in Building 10. The so-called pastas (Unit E) is now split up in two separate spaces: a room and a possible open area. The western area of the building (Units A, B and C) could be divided into three or possibly four different rooms.

Figure 11: Preliminary actual-state plan of Building 10 at Kastro Kallithea

with the excavation units indicated.

edged. For a fuller report of the research, see A. Tziafallas, M.J. Haagsma, S. Kara-panou and S. Goulas, “Scratching the Surface: A Preliminary Report on the 2004 and 2005 Seasons from the Urban Survey Project at Kastro Kallithea (“Peuma”) Thessaly. Part I: Introduction and Architecture,” Mouseion 6 (2006) 91–135.


The exact spot of the main entrance of the house has now become

clearer. It is not located near unit A directly opening to the street, as originally thought, but is most likely located on the east side of the house. A large part of the upper structure of the house must have been con-structed with irregular stone blocks. The top stones are made of very large worked limestone blocks, some of them measuring two meters in length. These blocks are situated on top of smaller irregular foundations. In some areas they can even see that this upper foundation layer has made use of spolia.

In various rooms the walls were plastered with the colours black, yel-low, light blue, white and red. The 2006 Test Trench in Room 2 yielded a lot of plaster, much of it in situ. In Unit A near the first floor level plaster mouldings were found as well and the excavation of the test trench made clear that plaster “pilasters” framed the doorways.

In Area 3 two Doric marble capitals were found lying on the first floor level. It is as yet unclear whether these capitals belonged to a peristyle lining the courtyard of the building, or whether they were used as original construction material in the walls. In close vicinity to the capitals a large marble block was found with three breast-like protrusions, very much like the one that was found in the entrance of building 5 in 2005. Their signifi-cance is unknown.

The excavation of the Test Trench in Room 2 yielded stratification with two distinct floor levels. The first floor level was found at ca 0.4 m from the surface. Finds located on this floor level consisted of roof tiles, archi-tectural fragments and few finds. The floor itself was made of beaten earth. Approximately 0.5 m below this level a second floor was found con-sisting of small limestone fragments. The fill above the first floor level yielded a lot of worn tile fragments and very little diagnostic material. Few pieces of combed ware and two coins were found, which means that the area was in use in Early Byzantine times. No floor level could be associated with these finds.

The first floor level yielded a large number of finds, some of which were datable. Many pieces of moulded ware were found in a variety of qualities. Some of these finds compare well to high quality moulded bowls pro-duced in Pherae during the 2nd–1st century BC. They found various frag-ments which seem to be decorated with mythological scenes and with names (Polyneikes) in relief. A large fragment of a glass bowl found in Unit B suggests a post 2nd century BC date for this floor level. The lowest floor level was only reached in the test pit (2 x 1 m) in Room 2. The finds were very well datable and consisted of a coin of the Thessalian League, dating to the mid 2nd century BC and a distinct deposit of ashes, an un-

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guentarium, a lamp, a small juglet, bones and astragaloi lying on top of a large roof tile. The lamp is of an Early Hellenistic type (3rd century BC) while the unguentarium can be dated to the first half of the 2nd century BC. They suggest, therefore, that this habitation stage ended half way through the 2nd century BC. Building 5 Building 5 consists of an enclosure including a small one-room building in the north and a sanctuary with an altar in the west side. The eastern room (anteroom) has internal dimensions 4.63 m (N-S) x 0.96 m (E-W). At least the southern part of it seems to have been paved with big slabs. The exca-vation in this room reached the natural red soil with gravel which follows the natural inclination from North to South. At least part of the area in the courtyard in front of its entrance seems to have been paved as well with big slabs. In this room a bronze coin of Antigonos Gonatas and three iron nails (possibly from the door) were found.

The western room of the shrine has internal dimensions 3.30 m (E-W) x 4.62 m (N-S) and could be entered via a doorway 1.25 m wide in which the threshold was still in situ. The threshold’s top surface has two levels and there are sockets for the doorposts and the door pivots. In the central and western part of the room were found fifteen iron nails, a few fragments of one or more female clay figurines, a clay thymiaterion and fragments of a second one. There was also evidence of burning in the soil in this part of the room. In the main room were also found seven bronze coins (Perdik-kas, Phalanna, two of the Thessalian League), a small shallow dish with black paint and incised decoration, a few sherds of other vases (lamps and a pithos included) as well as a great number of roof-tile fragments. Both rooms of the shrine were found covered by a pile of stones, indicating that the walls of stone were built up to a high level.

Building 7 They excavated from the western part of the building and found an E-W internal wall in the centre of building separating the building in two parts. There are four rooms now in the west area. Building 7 is a long orthogo-nally planned structure with E-W orientation; the entrance was in the eastern part. The external dimensions are: 20.32 m E-W and 9.85 m N-S. The building may have had ten rooms: five in the north and five in the south. All rooms seem to be interconnected and a courtyard has not been determined. In a single destruction stratum a very small amount of pot-tery, a clay spindle whorl, a clay round loom weight and a bronze coin were found in the two western excavated rooms mixed in with lots of roof tiles. In the southwest room a trial trench was excavated which revealed a


stratum of small stones and soil that was used for leveling the surface be-fore construction of the building. This layer did not contain any finds. The floors were made of beaten earth. As far as the use of the building is con-cerned the finds were few and non-diagnostic, meaning that they cannot tell anything about its function. Given the location near the agora and given its peculiar plan which differs from the private houses, they presume that it was public building. 6. THE SOUTHERN EUBOEA EXPLORATION PROJECT: THE KARYSTIAN KAMPOS SURVEY In the summer of 2007 the Southern Euboean Exploration Project (SEEP), directed by Malcolm Wallace (University of Toronto) and Donald Keller (American Center for Oriental Research), continued the intensive survey of the Karystian Kampos, located west of the town of Karystos in southern Euboea.11 The Field Directors of the Karystian Kampos Survey Project are Maria Chidiroglou (Hellenic Ministry of Culture) and Zarko Tankosic (Indiana University).12

The reasons for undertaking this survey were multi-faceted. They in-clude filling in the gap in the survey data from the area, which has been investigated by SEEP for more than twenty years; testing the importance of the Kampos, as the largest agriculturally viable stretch of land not only in southern Euboea but also among the northern Cycladic islands, for its prehistoric inhabitants; testing the extent and consequences of possible alluviation in the Kampos to archaeological sites in the area; testing the reliability of the so-called “route-survey” method employed in the survey of the eastern part of the Bay; and, finally, testing the hypothesis that some of the modern thoroughfares have been used as such in antiquity as well.

The project was partially funded by INSTAP.

Due to limited funds and time, the survey, although conducted inten-sively, has covered only a stratified sample of the entire originally desig-


stitute in Greece, 2006,” Mouseion 7 (2007) 148–152, and “The Fieldwork of the Canadian Institute in Greece, 2005,” Mouseion 6 (2006) 216; S.A.H. Kennell, “The Fieldwork of the Canadian Institute in Greece, 2004,” Mouseion 5 (2005) 288–290, “The Fieldwork of the Canadian Institute in Greece, 2003,” Mouseion 4 (2004) 334–336, and “The Fieldwork of the Canadian Institute in Greece, 2002,” Mouseion 3 (2003) 194–196.

12 The assistance and support of Ms. Rozina Kolonia, the Proistamenos of the 11th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, and archaeologist M. Kosma is acknowledged. They sincerely thank Sophia Stambelou and Evangelia Athana-siou, the museum guards at Karystos, for their aid and interest in the project.

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nated survey area. This sample of about 40% of the total area nonetheless forms a good basis for statistical analysis, prediction modelling, and other kinds of extrapolations, particularly so since the sample that was surveyed was not chosen randomly but with respect to specific predetermined rules. In this case the sections were selected in such a way as to include all the geomorphological features present in the survey area (e.g., southern foothills, northern foothills, central flat plain, proximity to the sea, ra-vines, gullies, water courses, roads, etc.) as well as take into account some of the results of the 2006 season (e.g., locations of discovered findspots 0r 2006 transects).

The survey produced plentiful and, in some cases, unexpected results. First, an unexpectedly large number of prehistoric or potentially prehis-toric sites have been discovered, at least 15. Second, their location as well as artefact distributions seem to suggest that the extent of alluviation in the Kampos was more modest or at least more localized than what was originally assumed. This suggestion has important implications for the nature of inter-communal relations in the area, particularly during the Early Bronze Age (EBA). Finally, all of the prehistoric findspots consist almost exclusively of obsidian scatters (most of which are preliminarily dated to the EBA), some of which are very large indeed. For example, one findspot has produced more than 3000 various pieces of obsidian, while from the other which is more modest in numbers, an entire reduction se-quence (chaîne opératoire) was recovered from the surface (fig. 12). There-fore, the survey finds, although they remain to be properly studied, strongly suggest that the Karystia was an important obsidian production and, most likely, redistribution center at least during the EBA and possibly earlier.

Chronologically the most numerous findspots (26 in total) are dated to the later Roman and Byzantine periods, during which times there is an evident increase in the habitation and use of the Kampos. These periods were usually represented by typical pottery, in some cases present in large quantities on the surface of the soil. The pottery from these periods was the one most represented in the offsite scatter as well, which was also re-corded during the survey as it has the potential to provide a useful re-source for the evaluation of the use of the plain. Unfortunately, unlike in the 2006 season during which a Classical or Hellenistic sanctuary and two Byzantine chapels were found, no significant architectural remains were discovered during the 2007 works.

Finally, it appears that the initial results of the survey also support the hypothesis that some of the presently existing thoroughfares were em-ployed in antiquity as well. This seems certainly to have been the case with the current main road that runs through the Kampos and connects


Karystos with Marmari on the western Euboean coast. This road was probably used at least as early as the Roman times.

Figure 12: Sample of from a findspot in the Kampos of Karystos that dis-

plays an entire reduction sequence for obsidian artefacts.

Further, in June and July of 2007, a team continued studying the sites and the finds for publication of the extensive reconnaissance survey con-ducted previously by SEEP of the Bouro-Kastri peninsula which forms the eastern side of Karystos bay. Most of the sites are small, rural agricultural or herding stations and towers of Classical to Hellenistic or Late Roman date. Yet a Classical to Hellenistic hamlet and kiln site, an Early Roman cippolino quarry, a quarry road, and stretches of the pre-Turkish road connecting Karystos with Porto Kastri, ancient Geraistos, were also identi-fied. A dozen prehistoric sites date to the Final Neolithic and Early Bronze ages. No other prehistoric periods are represented, and as elsewhere in the Karystia, the Late Bronze Age is notable by its absence.

Susan Rotroff (Washington University in St. Louis) finished her exami-nation of the pottery from the historic periods collected in the survey, and her catalogue of the pottery is nearly completely written. The study of the post-Roman pottery was facilitated by a brief visit in early August by Athanassios Vionis (University of Leuven). In addition, Jere Wickens (Lawrence University) finished a draft of the site catalogue, and he gave printed copies of it to both Ms. Kosma and the Karystos museum guards.

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Until the final publication is ready, that, together with the 1:5000 maps of the region with the sites marked on them, already in their possession, should help them in protecting the sites and answering questions con-cerning them. He also accompanied Ms. Kolonia and Ms. Kosma to the site of the Classical-Hellenistic hamlet, to check the condition of the site subsequent to the building of a house at the edge of the site. 7. THE CISTERCIAN ABBEY OF ZARAKA The Canadian Institute in Greece excavated the Cistercian Abbey of Zaraka at Ancient Stymphalos between 1993 and 1997. The project was directed by Sheila Campbell (Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, Uni-versity of Toronto, Ontario).13

In 2007 there was a study season for the Cistercian Abbey of Zaraka ex-cavations directed by Kostis Kourelis (Clemson University, USA), Joseph Alchermes (Connecticut College, USA), and Anthony Masinton (York University, UK).

Zaraka is one of Greece’s most important monastic foundations from the Frankish period.

14

An unexpected delay in issuing the study-permit truncated the antici-pated two-weeks into one week of field work. Nevertheless, the team managed to train the students and produce a complete set of profile draw-ings for all types of architectural blocks scattered throughout the site. Dr. Masinton completed an EDM survey of all standing walls. The student drawings have served as the foundation for a digital reconstruction of the architectural members, which were inserted into the spatial reconstruc-tion. The model will serve as the foundation for future research on archi-tectural form, light, texture and movement.

Three undergraduate students conducted an architec-tural survey of the building in order to provide visual documentation and a 3D digital model for the monograph publication. Since the building is in ruins, its original architectural form had been highly speculative and based on Anastasios Orlandos’s problematic reconstruction from 1955. The Zaraka Survey season was made possible by the financial support of York University, Connecticut College and Nicolas Vernicos, a private do-nor associated with the College.

The members of the project also travelled to the western Peloponnese in order to record “Green Man,” a critical keystone from the abbey’s ribbed vaulting. “Green Man” had been lost for many years, but was redis-

13 For previous reference, see S.A.H. Kennell, “The Fieldwork of the Canadian

Institute in Greece, 2004,” Mouseion 5 (2005) 290. 14 The assistance and support of Konstantina Skarmoutsou, the Proistamenos of

the 25th Ephorate of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments, is acknowledged.


covered in the Sikyon Museum. The piece was recently moved to Chlemoutsi Castle and will be displayed in the permanent exhibition of the Museum of Frankish Antiquities within the Frankish castle (fig. 13).

Figure 13: The “Green Man” keystone from the ribbed vaulting of

the Cistercian abbey at Zaraka, Stymphalos, now in the Chlemoutsi Castle Museum.

Their short but productive field season accomplished four objectives.

First, it served as a new field school for Connecticut College’s program in architectural studies. Second, it facilitated a methodological conversation in the interface between traditional surveying methods and new experi-mental software applications in stereoscopy, geo-rectification, and digital photography. Third, the survey provided some support to the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation’s digital reconstruction of Ancient Stymphalos, which will be displayed in the Foundation’s new Museum of Traditional Crafts and Environments of Stymphalos. Finally, the greatest scholarly contribution of this project was made by Dr. Masinton’s process-ing of all the data back in York. His expertise in medieval architectural analysis and modelling has produced the first correct reconstruction of

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the building (fig. 14). After countless hours of data entry, Dr. Masinton produced the most realistic visualization of the building with user-defined navigation and walk-through capabilities. Dr. Masinton will contribute drawings and an interpretive essay to S. Campbell’s final publication of the site. The reconstruction is available at http://www.thomasav.com/Media/zaraka.html.

Figure 14: A digital isometric 3-D reconstruction of the vaulting and sup-

ports of the Cistercian abbey at Zaraka, created by Anthony Masinton. THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE IN GREECE DIONYSIOU AIGINITOU 7 GR-115 28 ATHENS, GREECE

Documents

“The Fieldwork of the Canadian Institute in Greece, 2007,” Mouseion 8.2 (2008): 241-264