ELLINIKO - 2004

Area of the former West Airport. K. Kaza-Papageorgiou (ΚΣτ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery, in a level area 100m south of the Trachonon stream and 200m east of Poseidonos Avenue, of part of a conglomerate quarry during construction works for the Olympics. The quarry contained 1.4x1.7m blocks which had been removed, and others which had yet to be detached from their beds.

The fill contained stones of various sizes and many sherds of large vessels (amphorae, lekanes, beehives, and a few small drinking vessels and other household wares) dating to the fourth century BC. The volume of material suggests that the deposit originated from something larger that a single household complex. The pottery showed signs of wear and there was great variety of amphorae from many mainland, island, and colonial workshops (Athens, Rhodes, Kos, Mende, Chios, Corinth etc.). It may have come from a public area or a trading station located on the western side of the Saronic Gulf.

In a trench between two blocks was a hoard of 47 fourth-century Attic bronze coins of an Eleusis series and of Salamis. A marble head of a female figure was found detached from a relief (probably funerary) stele.

60m east of the quarry was a cistern in the fill of which were sherds of mainly large vessels (amphorae and lekanes) but also small drinking vessels (skyphoi, kantharoi, phialai etc.) of the third and second centuries BC.