Nikos Kazantzakis Municipality –Kounavoi area. Simianou or Kakava Kefala site (property of G. and M. Douka), Lyttos - 2008

Nikos Kazantzakis Municipality –Kounavoi area. Simianou or Kakava Kefala site (property of G. and M. Douka), Lyttos. Maria Mavraki Balanou (ΚΓ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports that a single-day salvage excavation took place at this property in Kounavoi area, where the Archaeological Service has identified an ancient cut near the W side of the field, originally thought to be of funerary use (Fig. 1,2).  

The soil covering the cut was the result of an older backfilling from an excavation or dorm a secondary use of the structure from the inhabitants of the area. The fill contained only a few undecorated sherds. 

Apart from the main rectangular cut, three more were identified, and at the NE corner of the second one, at least four small sub-circular holes and a cut larger than the aforementioned were found. 

The construction of the cut mentioned above resembles that of a press, for the production of oil or wine and the collection of the liquid at the deepest cut towards the S. The smaller cuts and the holes were potentially used for the application of some lever-tools. In earlier years, this structure was used for water collection. It is dated to the period of the Venetian rule and might have also been used earlier, during the Roman period. 

[Entry created by C. Koureta]