NEMEA - Sanctuary of Zeus - 2012

Nemea, Sanctuary of Zeus. K. Shelton (ASCSA/Berkeley) reports on the third and final season of excavation in the Heroön and surrounding area (Fig. 4), which aimed to trace prehistoric/early historic activity to better understand the construction of the Archaic Heroön mound and its boundary walls, to define more clearly the Archaic-Classical-Hellenistic phases of these walls, and to characterise the area west of the Heroön. Work demonstrated that extensive construction phases throughout the Archaic period began with landscape modification to control water courses and create a tumulus-like mound that was expanded several times. Further evidence of ritual linked to the use of the area as a hero shrine pertains to several phases of the Archaic period, with an intense phase of deposition in the mid-sixth century BC. The pattern of deposition indicates a focus of ritual in the southeast part of the early precinct. The recovery of further late Mycenaean pottery emphasizes early activity at this location. Results from individual grid squares are reported as follows.

Excavation in F19 focused on the pre-shrine usage of the area. Renewed excavation in an area where whole vases were found at the end of the 2011 season revealed part of a dipper and two LH IIIB/C Early deep bowls in a layer of soft yellow-brown clay with charcoal flecks. The condition of the finds suggests a nearby source context, yet no structure or use context was found. In the southeast quarter of F19, excavation in the centre of the low hill that predates the construction of the Archaic mound revealed a well-preserved wall which continues to west and east (in G19 as wall i). Consisting of a single course of rough limestone, it had two construction phases, both belonging to an early Archaic phase of the shrine mound (Fig. 5). Below this level was a mix of late eighth- to early seventh-century sherds, followed by exclusively Late Helladic sherds of drinking vessels to a depth of 1.7m. A limited test to a depth of 2m revealed clean, hard clay. An iron spearhead with associated carbon was uncovered just beneath the surface.

An attempt was made to define and better understand the western boundary wall, its phases and its relationship to the massive stone packing (possibly a revetment or dam) to the east and southeast. The space was used progressively from the Archaic to Hellenistic periods: pottery recovered from the lowest layers was associated with burning, perhaps indicating ritual activity. A complete absence of stone packing and boulders clearly indicates that the northern limit of this feature lay further to the south.

Excavation in G19 aimed to clarify the stratigraphy and construction phases of the Archaic Heroön. The continuation of wall i was not found (although a few displaced stones may be related): rather, a second east-west retaining or boundary wall (ii) had two construction/activity phases within the Archaic period. Over 20 whole vases (primarily drinking and pouring vessels) clustered with finds such as an Aeginetan coin, fragmentary figurines, and a substantial iron tool blade, almost exclusively to the north of this wall, within the perimeter of the shrine. A few ritual deposits, especially with a receptacle of overturned and modified jug/oinochoe, were associated with the curving line of the wall when many large stones were robbed out and the line of the wall to the north interrupted. The wall was then extended to the east, expanding the interior area of the shrine. Vase clusters associated with the mound’s construction and use in the Archaic period included (Fig. 7) an Attic black-figure band cup (possibly by the Tleson Painter) depicting hens and cocks, an Attic black-glazed kotyle, and a Corinthian black-figure kotyle decorated with elongated sirens, probably by the Vermicular Painter. These vases provide a mid sixth-century date for this phase of the Heroön. Earlier phases associated with the mound, and likely with the initial construction of wall ii, date from the late eighth to the seventh centuries BC. Two pits (both containing evidence of burning, stones, and pottery) date to the latest phase of activity excavated this season, in the late sixth to early fifth century BC. Further investigation of the extent and phasing of wall ii and of the relationship of the mound’s Archaic construction/activity to the Hellenistic temenos wall at the east and south was begun at the end of the season. Finds include an Archaic terracotta figurine of a horse and rider holding a shield (Fig. 8), found close to, though not abutting, the southern face of wall ii. The figurine and associated pottery, including a miniature krateriskos, further suggest ritual activity in the area.

Investigation in E19 focused on the southern extent of a north-south road and on a feature of large squared boulders, both excavated in 2011. A curving row of architectural blocks (one with a Lewis cutting) was found to mimic the curve of the Heroön boundary. The road revealed alternating layers of surface and bedding: most of the material excavated consisted of broken-up Hellenistic tile used as fill in the road construction. In the south corner of E19 use phases date from the early Archaic to the Late Roman periods. The principal features found in this area (in addition to the road) are a substantial support wall below the southwest corner of the later Heroön and more of a massive stone feature, possibly a dam, encountered in 2011 (the fact that all of the stone are well water-worn further indicates that the feature should relate to a water management programme). Small finds associated with road layers include a late fourth to third-century coin of Sicyon and a fourth-century coin of Corinth.

 

Conservation and restoration was undertaken on three monuments. The Stadium Tunnel was heavily conserved and lightly restored. Cracks and breaks in the stone blocks of the upper vault were filled with a special grout and stabilized with titanium pins. In a few instances partial blocks were created from artificial stone to replace missing surfaces (Fig. 1). Stabilization of the tripartite cistern in the western sanctuary involved the placing of horizontal braces in each of the chambers (Fig. 2) to counteract the inward-sagging of the east and west walls. In the Temple of Zeus, the second stage of Phase II involved the restoration of the entablature at the northeast corner of the temple. All ten of the fully restored epistyle blocks were set on a temporary cement foundation off the northeast corner of the temple: beginning with the northeast corner block, they have begun to be individually lifted onto the columns (Fig. 3).