ZEA HARBOUR PROJECT - 2010
Informations Générales
Numéro de la notice
1878
Année de l'opération
2010
Chronologie
Mots-clés
Nature de l'opération
Institution(s)
Localisation
Toponyme
Zea Harbour
Zea Harbour
Notices et opérations liées
20062010
Description
Zea Harbour Project. B. Lovén and M. Møller Nielsen (DIA/University of Southern Denmark) report on the 2010 campaign in the two ancient naval harbours of the Piraeus: Mounichia (modern Mikrolimano) and Zea (Pashalimani).
At Mounichia, investigations focused on shipsheds in the northern and north/northwestern part of the harbour, and on the ancient harbour fortifications, especially the northern ancient fortified mole and the remains of a large square tower (M-T3) in the southern fortified mole (Fig. 1).
Group 1 Shipsheds (M-G1, Fig. 1). Survey dives on the northern side of Mounichia located the remains of a side-wall and four colonnades, structures tentatively identified as the remains of at least six shipsheds belonging to M-G1. Large areas of worked bedrock, several architectural elements and an unidentified built structure (M-G1/U:1) were also found. Surface cleaning exposed the structures for digital surveying. The colonnades stand on a foundation fill containing a small quantity of diagnostic ceramics (Fig. 2). The superstructures of these shipsheds extend at least 35m from the modern shoreline and to a depth of more than 2m. This area will be crucial for understanding sea-level change since antiquity, and thus the harbour-front topography of the ancient Piraeus. Large areas of the modern harbour in this area were also surveyed in detail, providing data useful for understanding the impact of its development on the ancient harbour.
Group 2 Shipsheds (M-G2, Fig. 1). An unidentified structure (M-G2/U:1) was located in the area of M-G2. M-G2/U:1 consists of four re-used column drums laid side-by-side. A similar construction has been observed in the ramps of the Phase 3 shipsheds in Area 1 at Zea Harbour, suggesting that M-G2/U:1 may belong to the M-G2 shipsheds. The structure awaits more detailed documentation next year.
The Northern Fortified Mole (M-FM1, Fig. 1) has been mostly overbuilt and/or destroyed by modern harbour works, but a substantial section of the west inward side of the structure, alongside and under the modern quay, is preserved to a height of two courses and over a length of 12.7m (Fig. 3). The fortified mole is constructed on a rubble foundation containing large quantities of pottery. Excavations here, continued from 2009, aimed to define and date these foundations. They were found to be destroyed about 2m to the west of the inward side of the fortified mole. The preserved rubble foundation layer excavated west of the mole (found at a depth of ca 0.3m) consists of large irregularly-sized stones set in white-grey medium- and fine-grained sediments, frequently with a more compact clayish texture mixed with pebbles and ceramics. Fragments of several large rectangular limestone blocks were found in the fill, suggesting either a collapse of the upper courses of the mole or its destruction during modern harbour works (which is perhaps less likely as no modern material was found in the layer). Fragments of ashlar blocks covered nearly the entire trench; they protected the foundation fill but made further excavation and survey impossible. Patches of the original bedrock were visible between the ashlar blocks. Excavations in 2009 and 2010 in the accessible areas of the fill have yielded diagnostic pottery that could date the construction of the mole. In 2011, the project plans to remove the ashlar blocks and excavate the foundations.
Tower 3 (M-T3; Figs 1,4). Survey dives outside the modern harbour in the area of M-T3 investigated the foundations of the tower and the fortified mole to the northeast and west. Remains of the fortified mole to the west of M-T3 are preserved in situ to a height of three courses of limestone ashlar blocks. The tower foundations and the fortified mole extending northeastwards between M-T3 and M-T2 are preserved to three or perhaps four courses. A test trench was opened to the west of M-T3 to determine whether further remains of the fortified mole were preserved here. Only one layer was found, consisting of a uniform matrix of rounded stones mixed with pebbles/gravel of varying size, and loose fine sand. The sediments contained very little organic material. The trench was excavated to bedrock and contained no finds. It is possible that the bedrock was used to accommodate structural elements, but no associated features were recognisable.
Investigations in Zea Harbour focused on the shipsheds and other ancient structures in Area 2 (Fig. 5). The primary objective of this ongoing work is to obtain a better understanding of the critical junction of shipshed Groups 1 and 2. Extensive surface cleaning was conducted in the presumed area of the colonnade dividing Shipsheds 34 and 35. Two well-preserved, rock-cut colonnade foundations were found.
The surface of a large built structure, believed to be the foundations of Shipsheds 30 and 31, was cleaned. A test trench was opened east of this structure to identify any remains of a side-wall or colonnade dividing them. No features were found.
The project is supervised by the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities (represented by Dr. D. Kourkoumelis).
The project is supervised by the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities (represented by Dr. D. Kourkoumelis).
Auteur de la notice
Robert PITT
Références bibliographiques
Unpublished field report, Danish Institute at Athens (B. Lovén and M. Møller Nielsen).
Légende graphique :
localisation de la fouille/de l'opération
localisation du toponyme
polygone du toponyme Chronique
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Date de création
2011-02-28 00:00:00
Dernière modification
2023-10-06 13:49:03
Figure(s)
Fig. 1/ Zea Harbour Project. Mikrolimano (ancient Mounichia), areas under investigation in 2010.
Fig. 2/ Zea Harbour Project. Mounichia Harbour, M-G1 shipsheds, excavation of Test Trench 1.
Fig. 3/ Zea Harbour Project. Mounichia Harbour, M-FM1, west side of Fortified Mole 1.
Fig. 4/ Zea Harbour Project. Mounichia Harbour, M-T3, digital survey of Tower 3.
Fig. 5/ Zea Harbour Project. Zea Harbour, designations of Areas 1‒9.