PLYTRA - 2006

Plytra. E. Zavvou reports on renewed excavation and survey. One of the city’s cemeteries is located on the W side of the archaeological site. Beside the mod. harbour mole lies a subterranean built tomb (columbarium) with niches, ca. 5.35 x 6.90m, oriented N−S with the entrance to the N (staircase in the NW corner). The upper surfaces of the walls of 2 further tomb monuments were located in the same area, one almost touching the E side of the first tomb and the other just to the NNW (dimensions ca. 4.7 x 5m). Their disposition and orientation suggest that a road ran between the former 2 monuments and the last mentioned. A further, similar tomb was found to the E along the line of this road (dimensions 4.17 x 5m).
Ca. 100m further E, a built subterranean columbarium with hemispherical and orthagonal niches was discovered in rescue excavation on the property of G. Venetsanaki and A. Vraimaki. Its dimensions were 1.72 x 0.64m. It was used for multiple burials in successive levels from the 2nd to the 4th Ct AD. Two cremation urns and a marble ossuary were found. Grave goods included a large number of pottery and glass vessels, a marble ossuary with incised decoration of a bucranium and garland, and a Laconian bronze coin from the reign of Hadrian (117−118 AD). Notable finds include lamps of the Firmalampe type, one of which bears the mark of a N Italian workshop (NERI: 1st half 2nd Ct AD), and a glass bowl with a double-line incised signature (E4th Ct AD). These finds confirm that the local harbour had significant trading connections across the Mediterranean during the Rom period. Standing remains of tomb monuments are visible in the east cemetery: a fourth-century small oinochoe was collected from them. An unguentarium was found in the neighbouring area.
The area of the anc. city was even larger, however, taking into account published finds from within mod. Plytra, while many LRom and EByz structures are located in the NE part of the archaeological site, in the area of an anc. quarry with a relief of Herakles, and on the slope opposite it. These structures have blind apses at their sides and in many cases preserve traces of wall-painting within red painted frames − traits which identify them as tomb monuments.
An undecorated sandstone sarcophagus, with a stone headrest on the interior, contained a 4th Ct AD lekythos and a W sigillata fragment with a round, garlanded stamp (IVLI: end 1st Ct BC−E1st Ct AD). Finds from the area as a whole (architectural members, inscriptions, clay and marble vessels) have been assembled over a number of years: many have been handed over by local inhabitants to the Demarcheion of Asopos. Among these are: fragments of a sandstone door; the base of a grey marble perirrhanterion (0.55m h.; 0.32m upper di.); a sarcophagus lid (1.94 x 0.79m); and fragments of inscriptions.