NÉO PHALERON - 2023

Irini Skiadaresi (Ephorate of Antiquities of Piraeus and Islands) reports on excavations at 8 Diamanti Street, in Neo Phaleron. An ongoing rescue excavation has so far yielded findings dated from the Classical to the late Roman times (fig. 1). The findings include one stone-built enclosure from Roman times, as inferred from the excavated pottery. In addition, excavation revealed three wells, two from the Roman period and one dated from the Classical to the Hellenistic times, based on the pottery found in its fill. The “perivolos” consists of a rectangular construction made of enormous margaic limestone bricks and encompasses abundant animal bones and a large concentration of Murex shells. To the West of the rectangular structure, there are traces of its roof, which has collapsed and was probably a vaulted roof with tiles. A separate four-wall room abuts the north side of the “perivolos”. This room may have been a water tank, based on the mortar found on its floor and walls. To the East of the structure and this room, we excavated two undisturbed children’s jar burials dating to the fifth century. North of the room/tank, was revealed the base of a lime pit and, further north, the remains of a partially preserved road. The East part of the under-excavation area yielded an extensive concentration of animal bones, pottery, ceramics, and other movable finds, giving the impression of a refuse area/context. There are also two local dense concentrations of animal bones (mostly Bovine). In overall, the ongoing excavation produced architectural findings, pottery, terracotta tiles and adobe, fragments of glassware, coins, and shells.