Toumba Serron - 2023

Dimitra Malamidou (Ephorate of Antiquities of Serres), Nicolas Zorzin (National Cheng Kung University-Taiwan) and James Taylor (York) report on the second excavation season conducted at the Neolithic village of Toumba Serron on the eastern side of the Strymon valley of Northern Greece; a collaborative research programme between the Ephorate of Antiquities of Serres and the BSA. 

Excavation work was preempted in November (2022) by a final visit to the site by Christian Tzankov (University of Mining & Geology, Bulgaria) and Petar Zidarov (New Bulgarian University) to complete the site’s magnetometry survey. This meant that the summer field season began with a complete set of geophysical data covering the whole limit of the enclosed settlement (Fig. 1). Three trenches were opened this season: one 10m by 5m enlarging one of the 2022 areas (G5_83) which had already yielded evidence of Late Neolithic structural remains just inside a circular enclosure inside the site (Fig. 2,3); two further 20m by 3m trenches were oriented perpendicular, and intended to cross, the outer perimeter structure of the settlement visible in the geophysics outputs.

Area 4 (Squares: G583, G573): (Fig. 4)
In 2022 Square G583 was selected for excavation to examine potential burned buildings and a very large circular enclosure (120m of diameter) within which 30 burned buildings may be enclosed in at the top of the Toumba. The trench revealed a series of linear probable structural elements at a depth of between 1.20-1.40m, which appeared to correspond to the magnetometry data and were associated predominantly Late Neolithic I (LNI) pottery. In 2023 the area was reopened and the whole trench brought down by hand to the same level, whilst the area was expanded 5 metres to the north (G573) in an attempt to reveal the northern end of this structure, which had expanded into the northern limit of excavation. The total open area was now 10m by 5m. However, progression of the northern extension was slowed by the presence of another (previously unknown) structure quite high in the stratigraphic sequence which, despite being badly preserved (due to its location just under the plough zone) also yielded artefacts dating to the LNI period. Indicating for the first time that the site may have two phases of LNI activity. Wider exposure of the earlier structure (in G583) indicated the presence of structural postholes and collapsed mud building material linked to a structure at least 2.9m wide (apparently oriented NNE-SSW), which may have been damaged by fire.

Area 5 (H899): (Fig. 5)
This 20m long by 3m wide trench was positioned to cross-section the external bounding feature of the settlement and some of the areas inside and outside of this structure at the north of the settlement. Excavations here revealed that this was indeed a human made structure constructed of coursed layers of mud to form a substantial earthen wall approximately 3.5m wide (running across the trench) apparently built upon a buried surface prepared with burnt deposits, to a surviving height of at least 0.80m. The internal area to the south of this structure was characterised by rough ‘working’ surfaces which yielded some evidence of stone working. Outside and to the north was some tentative evidence (not fully excavated) of a large negative feature (ditch?). Cut into the uppermost ‘fills’ of this were two
quite tightly flexed burials. These are potentially an unprecedented find as there are no examples of late Neolithic burials in the upper Strymon Valley, although firm dating of these individuals is yet to be confirmed.

Area 6 (F764): (Fig. 6,7,8)
This 20m long by 3m wide was similarly placed to cross-section the external bounding feature of the settlement and some of the areas inside and outside of this structure at the northwest return of the settlement. Very little material archaeology was excavated in this trench, the purpose being mainly to identify the presence or absence of the bounding structure. Sure enough the structure was present, although highly deflated to the lowest course (due to the underlying geological deposits being topographically closer to the surface). There was some evidence of a cut feature on the outside of the structure. The exposed area on the inside (southeast) of the boundary wall displayed evidence of pitting.