Plastira Street (area west of Jesus Gate of the Venetian walls), Heraklion - 2007

Plastira Street (area west of Jesus Gate of the Venetian walls), Heraklion. Liana Starida, Eleni Kanaki, Periandros Epitropakis, Z. Aletras, Ch. Mpilmezi and N. Marnellou (13η ΕΒΑ) report that during 2007 a salvage excavation took place in the area W of Jesus Gate of the Venetian walls, on Plastira Street. A large rectangular vaulted building was detected, however its dome was mostly destroyed, while the entire building was filled with soil and stones.

The vaulted structure was in contact with the W wall of Jesus gate and it seems to have been part of a complex along with a structure above the gate and a small vaulted gate on the wall. The dome was more meticulously built in comparison to the vertical walls which seem to have been added later, while it also bore two holes, on its north and south parts. During the removal of the deposit from the interior of the building, large quantities of mainly Venetian pottery were found, as well as intact trefoil jugs and two soldini.

Outside and across the W and S walls, Trench 1 was dug, where the foundations of the vertical walls were discovered one meter from the surface. Trench 2 was opened in front of the steps of the small gate. A capital used as part of the paving was unearthed in front of the entrance of the vaulted staircase. The foundations of the W wall were also discovered on top of the natural ground, 0.70m from the surface.

[Entry created by C. Koureta]