SIKYON SURVEY PROJECT - 2007
Informations Générales
Numéro de la notice
289
Année de l'opération
2007
Chronologie
Âge du Bronze - Bronze Ancien - Bronze Moyen - Bronze Récent
Mots-clés
Fortification - Citerne - Maison - Installation hydraulique - Habitat - Production/extraction - Territoire
Nature de l'opération
Institution(s)
Localisation
Toponyme
Sikyonia
Sikyonia
Notices et opérations liées
Description
Sikyon Survey Project. Y. Lolos (Thessaly) reports on the continuation of a multidisciplinary (archaeological, geophysical and geo-archaeological) survey of the plateau of anc. Sikyon. Since the project’s inception in 2004, intensive survey has covered some 86ha (of a total of 250ha) and geophysical survey 37ha; geo-archaeological study is almost complete.
In 2007, 25ha were surveyed in 767 20m x 20m squares (Fig. 1). Artefact density varied significantly. On the upper plateau there were usually 100−150 sherds per square, with higher concentrations (ca. 200−300 and rarely up to 400) only in specific places. This pattern, observed also in previous years, probably signifies scattered, insubstantial installations (confirmed by the scarcity of architectural remains and the small quantities of roof tiles). W of the stadium, higher densities were found, as were traces of the city wall. On the N plateau, the area N of the agora and E of the stadium produced generally higher concentrations, and in certain squares roof tile greatly exceeded sherd. This phenomenon, encountered elsewhere on the plateau, relates to the large number of structures in this area − walls and corners of buildings and city blocks, retaining walls of streets, cisterns, quarries, etc. On the S plateau also, architectural remains are common in the area investigated, S of the agora, especially ashlar walls oriented N−S, E−W, on the anc. city grid. Associated finds indicate that many of these structures are domestic: industrial activities (stone quarries and an olive-processing installation) were also located. Finally, investigation of the ridge projecting from the SE edge of the plateau produced markedly different results. Instead of the Hel to MRom pottery found elsewhere, ceramics here date back at least to the EH and continue to LH III, with very little Cl−Rom: Byz and post-Byz sherds and tiles represent periods rare in other areas.
In 2007, 25ha were surveyed in 767 20m x 20m squares (Fig. 1). Artefact density varied significantly. On the upper plateau there were usually 100−150 sherds per square, with higher concentrations (ca. 200−300 and rarely up to 400) only in specific places. This pattern, observed also in previous years, probably signifies scattered, insubstantial installations (confirmed by the scarcity of architectural remains and the small quantities of roof tiles). W of the stadium, higher densities were found, as were traces of the city wall. On the N plateau, the area N of the agora and E of the stadium produced generally higher concentrations, and in certain squares roof tile greatly exceeded sherd. This phenomenon, encountered elsewhere on the plateau, relates to the large number of structures in this area − walls and corners of buildings and city blocks, retaining walls of streets, cisterns, quarries, etc. On the S plateau also, architectural remains are common in the area investigated, S of the agora, especially ashlar walls oriented N−S, E−W, on the anc. city grid. Associated finds indicate that many of these structures are domestic: industrial activities (stone quarries and an olive-processing installation) were also located. Finally, investigation of the ridge projecting from the SE edge of the plateau produced markedly different results. Instead of the Hel to MRom pottery found elsewhere, ceramics here date back at least to the EH and continue to LH III, with very little Cl−Rom: Byz and post-Byz sherds and tiles represent periods rare in other areas.
Geophysical prospection revealed a number of streets 6−6.5m w., oriented N−S and E−W, plus an almost 10m w. N−S avenue detected N and S of the agora. The dimensions of the agora are now almost established. The anc. city grid was formed of ca. 69m x 69m squares. Within the resulting insulae, a number of walls and structures, some belonging to courtyard houses, have been located.
Auteur de la notice
Catherine MORGAN
Références bibliographiques
Unpublished field report, Y. Lolos. The project website is: http://extras.ha.uth.gr/sikyon
Légende graphique :
localisation de la fouille/de l'opération
localisation du toponyme
polygone du toponyme Chronique
Fonctionnalités de la carte :
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Date de création
2009-12-01 00:00:00
Dernière modification
2024-02-16 08:11:10