CHRISTIANOUPOLI - 2010

Christianoupoli, Church of the Metamorphosis of the Saviour. The 26th EBA reports on excavation at this 11th- to 12th-century complex which includes an octagonal church and an episcopal residence (originally two-roomed). The church had previously undergone extensive restoration completed in 1951. It preserves a large part of its sculptural decoration and a little wallpainting dated to the 12th century.

Ten trenches were opened with the following results:

1: in the episcopal residence and in contact with the southwest corner of the church. Finds: a marble trapezoidal epithema, metal and glass items; a section of floor.

2: in the northeast corner of the church. Two graves were found with complete skeletons, plus scattered bones, and a broad wall between the central and north apse. Also a bronze rind and coin and a pot (figs 1-2).

3-4: in the northern part of the junction between the church and the episcopal residence. A cist grave with a tile cover was found, also a metal clasp, a pot, and a stone cross (figs 3-4).

5: west of the main entrance of the church and in contact with the south wall. Finds: a monolithic column and a large limestone structure; pieces of sculpture, parts of a stone column and kioniskos, a rectangular slab of marble and a pot (fig. 5).

6: in the northeast corner of the central nave: a child burial covered with stone slabs, also metal items and a decorated metal sheet.

7: within the sanctuary and in front of the south gate. No finds listed.

8: in the sanctuary niche. No finds listed.

9: in the southwest corner of the episcopal residence. A second-century AD bronze coin was found, depicting on the obverse the head of the emperor with the legend ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΣ, and on the reverse a winged thunderbolt with the legend ΚΟΙΝΟΝ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΩΝ.

10: between the central and south apse of the sanctuary. A low wall was found.