DYMOKASTRO - 2005

Dymokastro. G. Riginos (Η’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports that work to present the site included investigation of the rock-cut buildings 19 and 20; building Z was revealed alongside them comprising eight intercommunicating rooms. Building 19 to date consists of three rooms linked by rock-cut steps, but clearly extends further to the east. Building 20 was likely a single room, with both walls and floor shaped from the rock. Buildings 19, 20 and Z together extend over ca. 600m². Some of the walls of building Z were plastered, while rooms IIIB and VI had brick floors and room V a floor of tile fragments. Along the west wall of room IV were column bases in situ and fallen columns (probably from the doorway linking rooms IV and VI). To the northeast of building A, the east and south sides of a further building were revealed, with an entrance (and threshold) on the east side.

Cleaning work produced quantities of plain domestic pottery and black-glaze, whole vessels (lamps, transport amphorae, lagynoi etc.), terracotta loomweights, a terracotta figurine, bronze jewellery with relief decoration, and a bronze lion paw. Also found were iron and bronze arrow heads, many small metal items (parts of vessels, sheet, clamps, nails, hooks, needles etc.), a marble altar, stone architectural members, small bone items, fragments of glass vessels, and a large quantity of mostly bronze coins. These span a long period from the mid fourth to the second half of the first century BC.