Kolona, Aigina - 2022
Informations Générales
Numéro de la notice
18543
Année de l'opération
2022
Chronologie
Mots-clés
Nature de l'opération
Institution(s)
Localisation
Toponyme
Égine, Aigina, Aegina
Égine, Aigina, Aegina
Notices et opérations liées
Description
A. Sokolicek (University of Salzburg) and L. Berger (University of Salzburg) report on the 2022 excavation at the site of Kolona in Aigina.
Ongoing research focuses on two diverse issues: one on the development of the Bronze Age suburb in the northeast of Kolonna, and one on the question of the transformation of the Greek sanctuary into a settlement at the end of antiquity (fig. 1). From a topographical point of view, these two very different research areas are closely connected, because in the late Roman period, the sanctuary was heavily rebuilt and many structures were at least partially removed, so that in many areas Byzantine features are located directly next to or above the Bronze Age finds. Archaeological research in 2022 dealt with four main areas in order to investigate these topics (trenches NO1, NO3, NO4 and area K10).
Trench NO3:
The deep impact of late Roman and/or Byzantine building activities becomes particularly clear in trench NO3 in the northeast of Kolonna (fig. 2). Initially, the goal was to date the construction of the late fortification wall M1031. This aim could not be achieved because no chronological evidence in the associated stratigraphical layers was found. There were also no archaeological features or finds from the time of the sanctuary. The late fortification wall stands directly on the remains of a late Bronze Age house, which consists of an approximately 0.50 m wide wall (M1061; fig. 3) covered by a 0.30-0.40 m thick pack of mostly melted mud bricks from the upper wall structure. The exact dating and the extent of the building will be the focus of the investigations in 2023.
Trench NO4:
Outside, i. e. to the east of the late fortification wall M1031, the focus was on trench NO4 (fig. 2) north of a small church or chapel. The church, so far the only one known in Kolonna, was built directly against the fortification wall, possibly as a spiritual protection next to an entrance to the Byzantine city. The building is heavily damaged, and the stratigraphy disturbed, but below its northern doorstep in wall M1040 a small jug has been preserved, which is probably a "building offering" for the church (fig. 4).
Area K10:
Concentrating on the late Bronze Age settlement, a small area, designated as K10 (area A1 on fig. 1), gave limited but particularly well-preserved insight into the suburb of the Bronze Age settlement on Kolonna. Since 2015, this area has been in the focus of research in Kolonna and yielded information about early Mycenaean habitation, Bronze Age agriculture, craft and, above all, about waste behavior. In 2022, we excavated a layer of debris covering the entire western part of K10. The finds in the debris comprise many stones, very large fragments of MH II pottery, animal bones and molluscs, as well as charcoal, various clay and stone tools.
Trench NO1:
In trench NO1 (fig. 2), the focus lay on the Late Bronze Age fortification wall of the suburb, which has been known for a long time, but whose exact chronology and construction sequence have not yet been clarified. These fortifications consist of an older rectilinear stonewall (fig. 5; M1045) with mud bricks at the top layers. A rectangular tower of very large, rough blocks (M1184-86) was added at a later stage. The excavation focused on the clay and stone filling of the tower and its connection to the fortification walls. The numerous finds from the tower fill dates to the phases MH III-SH I. Consequently, the tower dates earlier than previously assumed.
During the construction of the tower, the older fortification wall M1045 was partially rebuilt. Another wall (M1046) was added to the east of M1045 (see construction joint on fig. 5). It differs significantly in its construction and was probably built at the same time as the tower. Although the situation is not entirely clear yet, it seems possible that the Late Bronze Age suburb was enlarged and better fortified during the shaft-grave period (MH III/SH I).
Ongoing research focuses on two diverse issues: one on the development of the Bronze Age suburb in the northeast of Kolonna, and one on the question of the transformation of the Greek sanctuary into a settlement at the end of antiquity (fig. 1). From a topographical point of view, these two very different research areas are closely connected, because in the late Roman period, the sanctuary was heavily rebuilt and many structures were at least partially removed, so that in many areas Byzantine features are located directly next to or above the Bronze Age finds. Archaeological research in 2022 dealt with four main areas in order to investigate these topics (trenches NO1, NO3, NO4 and area K10).
Trench NO3:
The deep impact of late Roman and/or Byzantine building activities becomes particularly clear in trench NO3 in the northeast of Kolonna (fig. 2). Initially, the goal was to date the construction of the late fortification wall M1031. This aim could not be achieved because no chronological evidence in the associated stratigraphical layers was found. There were also no archaeological features or finds from the time of the sanctuary. The late fortification wall stands directly on the remains of a late Bronze Age house, which consists of an approximately 0.50 m wide wall (M1061; fig. 3) covered by a 0.30-0.40 m thick pack of mostly melted mud bricks from the upper wall structure. The exact dating and the extent of the building will be the focus of the investigations in 2023.
Trench NO4:
Outside, i. e. to the east of the late fortification wall M1031, the focus was on trench NO4 (fig. 2) north of a small church or chapel. The church, so far the only one known in Kolonna, was built directly against the fortification wall, possibly as a spiritual protection next to an entrance to the Byzantine city. The building is heavily damaged, and the stratigraphy disturbed, but below its northern doorstep in wall M1040 a small jug has been preserved, which is probably a "building offering" for the church (fig. 4).
Area K10:
Concentrating on the late Bronze Age settlement, a small area, designated as K10 (area A1 on fig. 1), gave limited but particularly well-preserved insight into the suburb of the Bronze Age settlement on Kolonna. Since 2015, this area has been in the focus of research in Kolonna and yielded information about early Mycenaean habitation, Bronze Age agriculture, craft and, above all, about waste behavior. In 2022, we excavated a layer of debris covering the entire western part of K10. The finds in the debris comprise many stones, very large fragments of MH II pottery, animal bones and molluscs, as well as charcoal, various clay and stone tools.
Trench NO1:
In trench NO1 (fig. 2), the focus lay on the Late Bronze Age fortification wall of the suburb, which has been known for a long time, but whose exact chronology and construction sequence have not yet been clarified. These fortifications consist of an older rectilinear stonewall (fig. 5; M1045) with mud bricks at the top layers. A rectangular tower of very large, rough blocks (M1184-86) was added at a later stage. The excavation focused on the clay and stone filling of the tower and its connection to the fortification walls. The numerous finds from the tower fill dates to the phases MH III-SH I. Consequently, the tower dates earlier than previously assumed.
During the construction of the tower, the older fortification wall M1045 was partially rebuilt. Another wall (M1046) was added to the east of M1045 (see construction joint on fig. 5). It differs significantly in its construction and was probably built at the same time as the tower. Although the situation is not entirely clear yet, it seems possible that the Late Bronze Age suburb was enlarged and better fortified during the shaft-grave period (MH III/SH I).
Auteur de la notice
Georgios Mouratidis
Références bibliographiques
Unpublished field report, ÖAI
Légende graphique :
localisation de la fouille/de l'opération
localisation du toponyme
polygone du toponyme Chronique
Fonctionnalités de la carte :
sélectionner un autre fond de plan
se rapprocher ou s'éloigner de la zone
afficher la carte en plein écran
Date de création
2023-06-27 15:07:41
Dernière modification
2023-07-25 09:35:21
Figure(s)