PLISIOI - Ag. Dimitrios Katsouri - 2003

Plisioi, Church of Agios Dimitrios Katsouri. B. Papadopoulou (8th EBA) reports on excavation and conservation. Excavation inside the main naos revealed an older terracotta tiled floor in the north and south transepts and in the southwest area: this is likely the original floor of the church which continued in use until the 13th century (as indicated by the wallpaintings that extend down to it). The threshold of the south doorway between the main naos and the narthex (now blocked) was found, as was the stylobate of the double screen and its column base previously covered by the later floor. Fill between the two floor levels contained a little post-Byzantine pottery and several heaps of bones from reburials, especially in the southwest area. In the same area, east of the threshold of the south entrance and below the foundation level of the church was a probably Late Byzantine grave. The later stone floor was lifted over the entire southern part of the church and cleaning pursued to the level of the terracotta floor. In the sacristry and the apse, the terracotta floor was covered in a layer of hydraulic cement. Excavation around the perimeter of the church revealed, in contact with the central apse, a group of two cist graves and three free burials. In one of the cists (which was in contact with the apse foundation), the deceased wore a pair of silver earrings and a bronze finger-ring. The opening of trenches along the walls to insert a new drainage system revealed that the later church was founded on the remains of an earlier building of similar dimensions (sections of stone and brick wall, too poorly preserved to reconstruct the form of the structure). Down to foundation level the soil was disturbed, with many scattered bones from reburials, post-Byzantine and early modern pottery, and coins of various periods.