Marmara - 2013

Marmara, Motorway between Aigio and the Achaia-Corinth regional boundary. Erofili-Iris Kolia (ΣΤ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on ongoing excavations at the sanctuary of Demeter at Marmara (Fig. 1). While excavations in 2010 exposed a small temple and the N part of the lower E terrace, the 2011-2013 seasons focused on the S part of the sanctuary. 

At the upper terrace, on the S of the temple’s entrance (in the SW part of the sanctuary), a ritual pyre of more than 20 square meters was exposed. The bedrock was carved to accommodate the pyre and mark off its limits, and a projection was formed in its centre, possibly an ‘ash altar’ (Fig. 2). Findings from the pyre were dated between the Archaic and the early Hellenistic eras (Figs. 3, 4). The S part of the lower E terrace, in contrast with the densely built N part, revealed a concentration of narrow-bottomed amphorae and small, roughly built structures, some of which featured small rectangular cases made of tiles and pottery sherds and of unknown use (Figs. 5, 6).

At a lower level, a building featuring pottery of the late geometric period was found. In the W of the building the layers yielded five geometric burial pithoi, all furnished with a jug (Figs. 7, 8). A section in the same area revealed traces of an even earlier settlement, with pottery dated on the Early Helladic era. 

[Entry created by I. Iraklidi]