APOSOLEMES DAM - 2008

Aposelemes Dam. M. Mavraki-Balanou (ΚΓ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery of settlement remains at a number of sites in the area of the dam.

An extensive Minoan settlement at Avdou, near Petros and Agios Leontios, was founded in Middle Minoan III. An earth-floored open space, paved corridors and streets, and a monolithic threshold are recorded. At some point perhaps in late Middle Minoan III the site suffered destruction and was immediately reoccupied with modifications to the architecture which did not alter buildings’ external dimensions. The site was abandoned before the close of Late Minoan I.

At Mesochorio, between the villages of Avdou and Sphentyli, a strongly-built Minoan residence with at least four rooms is dated to Middle Minoan III- Late Minoan I by domestic pottery.

Excavation of a large Minoan complex at Kephali southwest of Sphentyli has so far revealed 52 rooms, most belonging to a single building. This building, of squared blocks of local limestone, has paved outdoor spaces and four polythyra. Three large rooms contained storage jars. The principal period of is Middle Minoan III- Late Minoan I, but Late Minoan III and Archaic sherds were also found. At a greater depth than the building lay 25 simple pit burials the date of which, whether Final Neolithic or later, remains to be resolved.

Middle Minoan III- Late Minoan I and perhaps Late Minoan III architectural remains were found at Paliotavernas Armi, northwest of Sphentyli, with a facility for producing oil or wine.

Archaic remains were found west-southwest of the trench protecting the church of Agios Konstantinos and south of the same church. At the former site were the remains of a farmhouse with four rooms arranged in a gamma shape, and a number of cut and built pit deposits. Stone plaques served to support large pots. The building had two phases. Most finds, including several pithoi, came from the first phase. The second phase dates to 600-550BC after which the building was abandoned.

An extensive Roman rural settlement lay south of Sphentyli at Leniko. A symmetrically organised complex of 20 rooms included spaces for storage and production. The building contained a kiln, stone tools (and a millstone), loomweights, and bronze coins together with the remains of olives and carbonised barley. The building remained in use from the first century BC to Late Roman or Early Byzantine times.