MEGARA, fortification in the northern part of the city - 2005

Megara, fortification in the northern part of the city. P. Avgerinou(Γ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery of sections of wall on the following on the following two plots.

1: Junction of Grammou and Karaiskaki Streets (property of I. Kastani, O.T. 390). A 9.75m-long stretch of the late fourth-century BC proteichisma of the city wallwas revealed.

2: Junction of Eupalinou and Philikon Streets (property of E. Christophorou. O.T. 232). Excavation revealed a section of the city fortification plus two roads in an area where stretches of fortification had previously been observed. Two strong walls in empkleton were revealed, coming to an angle which was probably the location of a gate (to judge from two threshold blocks with cuttings for the rod of door hinge, found on either side of the gap, and the presence of a beaten earth floor in the area between the wall ends). Part of a rectangular tower was preserved on the right side of the gateway: the gate and tower together are Classical (likely Late Classical) in date. This tower was built over an earlier stone structure which incorporated a number of blocks with wheel-ruts like those in road I, as well as three blocks with clamp cuttings which are not functional within the structure must therefore also be re-used. To the east was a large stone pile which included pottery of the second half of the sixth century BC.

Road I: a 16.5m-long and 0.4-0.6m -wide stretch of the southern retaining wall of this road ran east-west, 0.91m below the surface of modern Eupalinos Street (its eastern extension was previously located on the junction of Mykenon and Sotiros Streets, O.T. 276: ADelt [1970] Chr 117). The wall is founded on bedrock. Ten successive road surfaces of beaten sandy soil with sherds, gravel and organic matter, were identified, dating from the second half of the fourth century BC to the end of the Hellenistic period: the road varied in width from 2.2m at the west to 9m at the east. The four upper surfaces are associated with the retaining wall and date to the Hellenistic period: an earlier retaining wall beneath the later structure was built in the second half of the fourth century BC and remained in use until the beginning of the second. A water channel ran parallel to the earlier wall. Road I was a major artery through the north part of the city, and likely led to the Tripodiskos gate.

Road II ran northwest-southeast through the gate in the fortification reported above, crossing road I diagonally near the point where the width of road II increases. It was 3m wide and had five surfaces which correspond to surfaces 3-8 of road I (the earliest being third-century BC).

The surfaces of both roads produced a large quantity of pottery, mostly basins, ladles, prochoes, and table and transport amphorae. The transport amphorae were mostly Corinthian, including a very few stamped handles (one example bore the name ΑΠΕΛΛΕΑΣ). Three bronze coins were collected.