MOUNT LYKAION - 2009

Mount Lykaion, Sanctuary of Zeus. M. Petropoulos (Director, ΛΘ' ΕΠΚΑ), M. Voyatzis (ASCSA/Arizona) and D.G. Romano (ASCSA/Pennsylvania) report on excavation and study in 2009 (Fig. 1).
Stratigraphical evidence places the first use of the altar in the prehistoric period (Fig. 2). Late Neolithic, Early, Middle and Late Helladic pottery was discovered, with Mycenaean especially well represented (noting numerous kylikes and other small finds). Strata above this include Submycenaean and Protogeometric material, and Geometric to Hellenistic sherds in an apparently continuous sequence. There were large quantities of Final Neolithic, Early and Middle Helladic sherds in nearly all layers of the altar. Dedications recovered include miniature bronze tripods, silver coins, metal objects and miniatures of various kinds. Quantities of animal bone continue to be found, but as yet no human bone.
In the lower sanctuary, excavation was continued immediately north of the seats or steps (Fig. 3): part of a terracotta water channel may relate to the use of these seats in the fourth century BC. Outside the northeast corner of the xenon was a long, sunken open-air corridor with carefully cut walls. More of the 67m long stoa was cleared (Fig. 4) and three trenches were opened in the hippodrome (Fig. 5).
Geological, topographical and architectural surveys continued alongside excavation, following directions outlined in 2008 (Fig. 6). Architectural study of the bath to the northeast of the hippodrome began.