ANCIENT SIKYON - 2008

Ancient Sikyon, Kamaratiza (Property of I. Batsouli). A. Tsiokas (ΛΖ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery of a section of paved road during rescue excavation on a plot 1km northeast of the archaeological site of Sikyon and ca. 150m from the city wall.

The road ran east-west towards ancient Corinth to the east and rising up to Sikyon (the Stazousa fountain) to the west. Its width ranges from 4-6m with wheel ruts preserved in the paving: the length of the section is unknown as it continued beyond the plot. Destruction deposits (with building stones and a half capital with relief decoration) over the surface may indicate the presence of buildings to the south and north.

In the southwest of the plot were structures built of stone and waterproof cement on a gravel foundation: between them and the south edge of the road was a drainage channel. There was a similar, wider channel on the north side of the road. Ca. 1.5m north of the road, beyond the channel, was the angled wall of a structure built of three rows of stones (a peribolos which may also have retained the rising ground north of the road). Wheel ruts in the ground surface in this area indicate the existence of a road before the construction of the paving. A bronze coin of Sikyon dated to the first half of the second century BC was found on this ground surface. Within the structure, in the east part, was a grave built of waterproof cement, which contained the bones of at least two individuals, an iron agricultural implement, two small glass vessels, and an Early Roman lamp.

North of the wall, three pits were cut into the ground and covered with stone slabs and small stones. Two, in the north part of the area, were in contact with each other and covered with seven re-used stelai. A prochous placed over the cover of one indicates its use as a tomb. While all three pits were probably graves, they contained no evidence of their function. A vaulted cistern, lined with waterproof plaster, was sunk into the ground in the northeast part of the area, with two stone-covered entrance shafts (with steps down). Initially for the collection of water, the cistern may later have been used for storage or refuse disposal. It contained a large quantity of sherds, metal items, stone loomweights, and (gathered in one spot) gold leaves perhaps from a wreath or other ornament. Four vessels (two domestic pots and two miniatures) set on the ground were not evidently associated with any feature.

The majority of these features can be dated to the first and second centuries AD. Finds from the road surface were few (sherds and a stone loomweight), but date its use from the second century AD to the Late Roman period.