NIKOPOLIS - Fortification and cemeteries - 2000

Nikopolis. K. Zachos and colleagues (ΙΒ' ΕΠΚΑ) present a full account of work to conserve and present the Roman cemeteries and fortifications. In attention to summary accounts of the monuments, the results of targeted excavation are reported.

At the south gate in the Roman fortification, excavation revealed details of the construction of the east and west towers and the sections of wall beside them (Figs 1-3). In front of the east side of the west part of the wall, finds include part of an inscribed funerary stele.

South cemetery. Two mausoleia were investigated. Within the west tower lay mausoleum 1 (7.2m x 8.4m) with walls faced in opus testaceum and a cement floor on which were sarcophagi, and which had a central area of opus tesselatum. There was a niche in the west wall and two steps in the east side (where there was likely an entrance from the street of tombs). Conservation was undertaken on the floor mosaic of this mausoleum (Fig. 15). Mausoleum 2 (5.3m x 8.5m) has a tiled floor. On the north side was a second- to third-century BC stone sarcophagus of the Assos type inscribed on the lower part (Fig. 4). Among the spolia in the area is a sarcophagus fragment inscribed: ANTIΓONH ETΩN. Mausoleum 3 lies south of the eastern part of the south gate (5.2m x 4.2m, oriented east-west) with the entrance on the west in opus incertum and a clay floor. On the long sides are niches for cinerary urns. Two cist tombs, in contact with the north and south walls, each contained a built headrest; both were robbed, with only a few bones, pottery of the second half of the fourth century AD and fragments of glass vessels preserved.

In the area around the eastern part of the wall, some 50 tombs were found, mostly robbed, of which 33 were brick-built cists and 17 tile graves. Among these, grave 19, a child cremation, contained six terracotta dolls, four terracotta female figurines, a gold ring, a glass cup and an unguentarium, a bronze nail and iron wheels from a toy. Finds indicate that the south cemetery was used from the first to the fourth century AD. Tombs arranged on both sides of the road that passed through the south gate respect the line of the wall, thus providing a terminus ante quem for its construction.

North section of the Roman wall and north cemetery. Following extensive cleaning, excavation focused on the wall, the north gate, part of the ancient road and the north cemetery (Figs 5-6). Two stretches of the wall were exposed, 22m long east of the gate and 94m long to the west, plus most of the east tower (5.6m x 9m). A large number of bricks were stamped TVR and TN (Figs 7-8). The tower had a second storey; inside, a later partition wall includes a quantity of architectural spolia. Most of the west tower was exposed (Fig. 9), revealing a construction very similar to the east tower; inside was part of a floor in opus spicatum. A strong wall linking the tower with the spring of the arch includes re-used material (bricks, stone blocks and sculpture). This looks like a temporary later structure contemporary with modifications elsewhere. The gate (a monumental arched construction with a stone parapet) is one of the main entrances to the city through which ran the cardo (Fig. 10). The road through the gate had hard limestone paving. Excavation of, and outside, the Early Christian city wall revealed three building phases; three orthogonal towers and the intervening wall were traced (see also F. Kephallonitou [Director, 8th EBA], ADelt 55 [2000] Chr, 601).

The north cemetery extends outside the city walls. Forty eight tombs were found within eight funerary periboloi. Tomb types are brick-built cists (often with built headrests), pits, tile graves, enchytrismoi (in amphorae), simple inhumations and built receptacles. Both adults and children were buried. Grave goods comprised terracotta lamps (Fig. 11-14), glass vessels (unguentaria), small bronze items (coins, needles) and occasional personal items such as a bone comb and necklace. Peribolos A contained four cists; peribolos B a cist with an inscribed marble stele in situ and a tile grave; peribolos Γ had six tombs (two tile graves, a pit, an enchytrismos, one disturbed grave and a cist with an in situ inscribed marble stele); peribolos Δ had only one badly damaged tomb; peribolos E contained 12 tombs with pottery and burnt material from funerary offerings in the fill between them; peribolos Στ had eight tombs including a cist with two inscribed marble stelae. Peribolos Z contained seven cists, a simple inhumation, four tile graves and two tomb receptacles; here several cists contained multiple burials, reburials and inurned cremations, and the tile graves single burials, often disarticulated and with poor goods in comparison with the cists. The receptacles were sealed with the strong mortar used to line the floor, and were either ossuaries or held inurned cremations. The excavated portion of peribolos H contains three cists and, in the east, a probable mausoleum which postdates the earliest burials here.