LOUKA - 2006

E. Eleutheriou (Volos) reports on Byz remains in the small mountain plain around Louka. 2.9km N of Louka and 11.5m N of the church of Panagia Faneromeni is a large (14.2 x 8.6m) rectangular structure containing 2 cisterns. An EByz date is proposed on the basis of the construction technique and the little pottery preserved. Byz marble spolia are built into the S peribolos wall of the church. Ca. 200m ESE of the church are the remains of a one-roomed church (Ag. Theodoroi) 8.6 x 2.8m, with an internal apse and walls 0.8m thick (precluding a tiled roof). The wall construction and the little pottery preserved suggest a M−LByz date (12th−13th Ct AD). Continuing ENE, tiles and MByz and LByz sherds (plain, incised and glazed) are visible in the fields. Ca. 400m away is the ruined ‘Kokkini Ekklisia’ (cruciform, without narthex), the plan and construction of which are described in detail: an E13th Ct date is proposed on architectural grounds (there were no ceramic finds). Cleaning and excavation are required to verify this. Ca. 800m NE from the Kokkini Ekklisia are traces of a rectangular building (W side 6m l. with a 1.6m w. entrance; N 7.75m l.; S 9.7m l.; E traces only), with walls 0.75−0.80m thick, preserved to a maximum 0.72m h. Only a few tile fragments were visible, and the structure cannot yet be dated. 750m further on is the path to the mod. church of Ag. Efthimiou, whence leads the route to the hermitage of Ag. Vasileiou. Here 2 small churches, enclosed in a peribolos, are probably Byz (likely LByz) constructions, but have undergone major mod. reconstruction. Finally, going S through Louka, the site of Vidi lies ca. 120m before the church of Profitis Ilias. Here the S side and NW corner of a 2-storey tower (7.4 x 4.8m) are preserved to ca. 10m h.; around the tower, especially to the E, were traces of buildings. The tower likely controlled routes to the LByz settlements at Mouchli and Tsipiana (mod. Nestane). Surface finds of tile, unpainted, incised and glazed pottery, combined with the architecture, indicate a LByz date.