Sparta - Alkmanos Street - 2010

Sparta - Alkmanos Street (O.T. 130, property of ΟΣΚ). M. Tsouli, G. Tsiaggouris and V. Papadopoulos (Ε΄ΕΠΚΑ) report that the property of ΟΣΚ is located 300 m. away from the ancient theatre of Sparta, at an area where architectural remains of the late antiquity have previously been found. Trial trenches were opened during 1999, proving that architectural remains were present in the entirety of the property. The finds form the salvage excavations date mainly between the 2^nd and the 4^th c. AD. According to the pottery, the area was used during the Early Bronze Age, the Protogeometric/Geomteric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and the Roman period.

Two building complexes were discovered, one at the NE part of the property (Fig. 1) and one at its SW part (Fig. 2). The former was a bath complex with at least four building phases, with a cobbled floor and walls dating to the 2^nd c. AD. After the abandonment of the baths, three more phases of buildings of unknown use dating up to the 4^th c. AD are preserved. South of the bathing complex, the remains of a 20 m. long stoa have been unearthed (Fig. 2). It extends towards the unexcavated area in the S, while its relation to the architectural remains in the N has not been established.

The aforementioned buildings define an open space from the N to the W, dating to the Roman period. Multiple buildings were discovered during the investigation of this and around this space, while the collected pottery of various periods suggests that during the erection of the stoa and the bath, extensive construction works took place in the area. Three wells, containing pottery dating to different periods were excavated as well (well 1-Protogeometric/Geometric period, well 2-Hellenistic and Roman period, well 3-Archaic to the Roman period). Drains, two cisterns dating to a later construction phase as well as a ceramic kiln were also detected. A shaft grave and a cist grave, both belonging to non-adult individuals (Fig. 3), were also found near the stoa and the bath, whereas a Roman pit containing the remains of an adult was also excavated at the NE part of the plot.

Among the collected finds were Roman figurines, parts of ceramic masks, vessels, and spindle whorls; wall-paintings of the 3^rd-4^th c. AD, as well as iron nails, bronze fibulae, and coins of the 1^st-end of 3^rd c. AD.

[Entry created by C. Koureta]