AIGIALEIA - 2009

Aigialeia. A. Pontrandolfo (SAIA/Salerno) reports on the seventh season of survey conducted in 2009 in collaboration with the Στ' ΕΠΚΑ and the KERA/EIE (Centre for Greek and Roman Antiquity, National Research Foundation).

This first season of a renewed programme was focused in the Krios valley, on the upper part of the fluvial basin towards the borders of Arcadia (Figs 1-3). The intent was to combine survey with the excavation record derived notably from the work of the Austrian Institute and the Στ' ΕΠΚΑ around modern Seliana, identified with the ancient polisma of Phelloe (Pausanias 7.26.10−11), noting ongoing excavation conducted by C. Katsarou (Στ' ΕΠΚΑ) around the church of Ag. Vasileios.

Extensive exploration of the greater part of the area was undertaken to assess potential variations in surface visibility, and to gain a general sense of the probable relationship between surface traces and buried remains. Prospection covered the ca. 30ha of the territory of modern Seliana as defined by the Evrostina mountains and to the west by the Krios valley. Oral and written testimonia concerning site location were verified on the ground. Despite poor visibility, exploration revealed occupation from the Late Bronze Age to late antiquity.