CHANIA - 2007

Chania. Junction of Skalidi and Manoussoyannakidou Streets (Agricultural Bank property). L. Limantzaki (ΚΕ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery in 2004-6 of significant architectural and workshop remains, especially of the Roman period.

The earliest evidence of occupation is an eighth-century BC rubbish pit. By the Archaic period, a pit grave indicates that the region was used for burial, fitting its then position at the city boundary. In Classical and Hellenistic times a beaten earth road ran east-west between houses.

During the Roman period the area became an industrial quarter with a potter’s workshop producing transport amphorae. Two kilns were recorded to the southeast, positioned to allow a single roofed space with an earth surface north of kiln 1 and east of kiln 2 to accommodate the stoking and firing of both: accumulated charcoal and an amphora were found here. Strewn all around were kiln furniture (wedges), elements of wheels, wasters, sherds (including amphorae), and loomweights. An Ottoman pit cut into the northwest part of the complex.

Kiln 1 had a 2.8m square stacking chamber with an entrance at the southeast corner and walls of a clayey-soil (0.5-0.6m thick, preserved to 0.6m high) baked hard on the exterior. A clay grate of clay separates the stacking floor from the firing chamber below. Larger perforations at the edges of the grate had clay pipes to direct the hot airs into the stacking chamber. The roof was not preserved. The firing chamber below is smaller with a vaulted roof; in the centre was the large cylindrical support for the grate. The clay-coated walls were baked grey-black. The kiln mouth (1.05m high, 0.83m across) is at the north.

To the northwest, the smaller Kiln 2 (2.3 x 2.1m) is more damaged but has the same basic arrangement. The east and south walls, of clayey-soil, are free-standing, while the north and west walls abut existing stone walls. The entrance is at the southeast; the roof is not preserved. Parts of the grate survive, on which pots from the last firing remained in position. The firing chamber below, mouth to the east, was not excavated.

Two further structures relate to water supply. An underground construction in the north of the plot may be a cistern complex. A passage with walls of mixed ashlar and field-stones leads down via a flight of 14 stone steps to a subterranean rock-cut chamber with a steep incline from west to east (13m x 0.8-1.05m, with a further 17 steps). From the chamber, two tapering holes (reducing from 1.4 and 1.2m diameter) connect to the ground above either for ventilation or to funnel rain water into the chamber below. East of this complex is a 9.2m deep rock-cut well, lined for the most part with rough stones and tapering in diameter from 1.6 to 1.3m. Besides is a ramp of two stone blocks, one worn from the rope used to draw water.