Property of ‘Kiriks A.E., Chania - 2007

Property of ‘Kiriks A.E., Chania. Sofia Preve (ΚΕ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports that excavation works at the plot in 22 K. Chaniotakis Str., at the centre of the town of Chania, took place during 2007. There was fragmentary evidence of settlement phases from the Early Christian to the Hellenistic period, with multiple finds were unearthed (Fig. 1). The antiquities were covering the entirety of the property and were extending to unexcavated areas in all directions (Fig. 2)

A building of the 1st c. AD seems to have been destroyed by the earthquake of 365 AD, but was then partially re-inhabited. Another building with six fragmentary rooms dated to the Early Christian period (after the mid 4th c AD). The area W of the building had a ditch that was connected with an unusual structure with an open drain (“Structure 2-Ditch 1”) (Fig. 3). A built granary was located at the ground floor room at the SE (Fig. 4). On the floor of a well-preserved room, NW of the building (“Room A”), multiple objects were found in situ along with food remains (e.g. cooking pot lids, a lamp, a bronze perforated object with cross-shaped decoration, iron nails, a possible wooden structure) (Fig. 5). Bronze coins were discovered on the floor of another room at the E part of the building. Two coins depicting Emperor Zeno (474-491 AD) and one depicting Constantine and Heraclius (625-629 AD) were associated with the final habitation of the site. 

Some of the walls of the older, Late Roman building (4th c. AD) were used during the Early Christian period. A series of hearths were detected in two elongated rooms used for food preparation (Fig. 6). One of the rooms contained a destroyed structure from lime plaster as well as ceramic, glass and bronze vessels, a few bones, coins, grinders, a bronze blade and iron nails. At the central room of the building, more ceramic vessels of various shapes were found intact, along with coins, bones and shells, as well as figurine fragments and inlaid decorations of glass and faience. 

The investigation of the lower layers proved that the area was inhabited during the Hellenistic period, while the discovery of Middle Minoan pottery confirmed the long term use of the site. 

[Entry created by C. Koureta]