CHERSONISSOS - 2005

Ancient Chersonissos. S. Mandalaki and K. Galanaki (ΚΓ ΕΠΚΑ) report.

On the Mountraki property, at the east end of the modern neighbourhood of Polis, within the most densely inhabited part of the Roman city, the first phase of building consisted of two rectangular rooms containing late Classical pottery plus some earlier sherds (including possibly sixth-century black-figure aryballoi) and some Roman. The second phase consisted of a long north-south wall with rooms to the east and probably a road to the west. The third phase saw alterations and additions to the second phase constructions. One room, paved in marble, produced a large quantity of bronze and iron nails, bronze strips, lamps, bone pins, five coins and a female figurine. On the Syntichaki property in the area of the ancient theatre, the largest Roman cistern thus far discovered in the city (15.2m x 5.24m) may relate to the bath complex in the same area. Its construction is dated to the second century AD, and it is argued on the basis of a thick layer of pottery inside it that it fell out of use long before the roof collapsed (probably in the earthquake of 365AD). On the Kefalogianni property, Late Roman settlement remains overlay Early Roman structures. In one Late Roman room were found the bases of two pithoi containing pottery, in another an impluvium, and in a third, a possible oven or kiln. Small finds included figurine fragments, glass vessels, and bronze coins. On the Mastoraki property, parts of a hypocaust and of a mosaic floor with underlying pipes were uncovered. Pottery from the fill spanned the first to sixth centuries AD, and five bronze coins were recovered from the layer of the pipes. Finds from the Tamiolaki property comprise houses and a glass-worker’s shop with a small elliptical kiln underlying Late Roman remains. On the Papasinou property, outside the ancient city in the direction of Ano Chersonisos, the corner of a building and two peribolos walls were found. The outer peribolos contained architectural spolia and three inscriptions. Finally, 12 Roman graves (six cists, two tile graves and four pits) were excavated at Palatia (Kypriotaki property). Most were disturbed and few goods were found, but extensive use was made of older (first- to second century AD) grave stelae in their construction. One grave (7) contained 16 bone pins and fragments of glass vessel.