KOROPI - 2000

Koropi. The ancient demes of Lower and Upper Lamptrai (Fig. 1):
At Psilokoryphi hill (E. Chalkiadi property - Fig. 1) a prehistoric acropolis previously noted (cf. AR 52 [2005−2006], 13) was further investigated on the southeastern side. A thin layer of pottery above stereo dates to the Final Neolithic, above which was a peribolos of large stones with an entrance 1.5m wide and other Mycenaean structures. To the east was a circular ditch (1.1m in diameter, 0.3m deep) containing Mycenaean ceramics, bones of large animals and a fragment of a Phi figurine. To the east was a pit with much Mycenaean pottery, particularly kylikes, cups and prochoes, also bones of large animals, figurine fragments and parts of a foundry with bronze slag.

Between Epidavrou and Keas Streets an ancient road was disturbed during illegal house building; excavation revealed remains of buildings, perhaps rural in nature, of the fourth century BC. Around 150m to the west, at the junction of Epidavrou and Irakleous Streets, where the ancient road crosses towards the Mesogeia, a small structure of stone blocks may be a tower.

At Makria Pefka (Taxiarchon and Kyprou Streets - Fig. 1) a Roman farmstead composed of nine rooms was identified.

At Lambrika, north of Varis-Koropiou Avenue, in the area of a previously investigated Early Helladic house, further building remains produced EHIIB ceramics.

On Iphaistou Street (Tycom Company property), south of Varis-Koropiou Avenue, an area within a well-built peribolos was investigated, through which led a road with built boundaries (Figs. 2-3). To the northeast, a small repository (perhaps a cenotaph) contained figurines (a seated female and two males), five lekythoi, a small pyxis and a skyphos, all dating to the mid fifth century BC. That the area was a temenos can be inferred from an inscription on an unpainted amphora: ΗΔΥΛΟΣ ΜΑΝΕ[ΘΕΚΕΝ]. A marble plaque from the peribolos was also inscribed.

In the area of the Health Centre, where the remains of a prehistoric house were previously excavated (ADelt 44 [1989] Chr, 84), the existence of further prehistoric structures was confirmed, and Mycenaean and Geometric sherds recovered. Around 100m to the west, part of an EHII building was found, containing a large amount of obsidian and indications that obsidian was worked here.