THESPROTIA Thesprotia Expedition - 2007

Thesprotia Expedition. B. Forsén (Finnish Institute/Helsinki) reports on the 4th field season, which consisted of intensive field survey, a geological survey, geophysical prospection and trial excavations at 3 sites. Palynological samples were taken from 3 lakes in the region. A total of ca. 4km² has been covered by intensive survey in 4 years. In 2007, the valley bottom E of the Kokytos river was surveyed. 13 new places of special interest (indicated by PS) were identified, most of which are to be considered as sites. This brings the total number of places of special interest within the 4km² to 49, i.e. ca. 12 sites per km².

Among those documented in 2007 was a cluster of MPal to Upper Pal lithics (PS 45) and a Mes site with a large spectrum of tools and flakes (PS 43). Several Cl to Hel sites were documented, with bg pottery and loomweights, as well as coarseware and roof tiles (PS 37, PS 44, PS 46, PS 48 and PS 49). One, PS 46, only ca.100m from the EIA site PS 36 (cf. AR 53 [2006−2007], 47), also produced EIA sherds as well as ERom terra sigillata. Finally, one MRom site (PS 41), 2 LRom sites (PS 38, PS 39) and at least one Emod. site (PS 47) were located.
The first site at which trial trenches were opened had been located by field survey in 2004 (PS 12 near the village of Sevasto, on the lowermost slope of the Liminari hill facing SE). Its preliminary dating to the end of the Neo period was based on a few badly worn sherds found on the surface. Four small probes opened in 2007 confirm the existence of rich LNeo to EBA remains, and open the possibility that earlier Neo phases are also present. Clear cultural layers with dark soil, charcoal, burnt mud-brick and 4 spindle-whorls spanning the FNeo to the EBA were found in 2 of the probes.
The pottery consists mostly of badly fired medium coarseware with occasional plastic applications in form of a taenia with finger impressions or conical lumps of clay (FNeo to EBA). Other general traits, such as medium-fine pottery with grey or dark surfaces, burnished or polished on the interior and plain on the exterior, indicate LNeo to FNeo, while some ‘impresso’ sherds might extend back into the ENeo−MNeo. A body sherd of corded ware, dating to L EHI−E EHII, represents a ware occurring throughout the Balkans down to Thessaly.

The 2nd site excavated, PS 29 near the village of Agora, was believed to be an LCl−EHel farmstead on the basis of surface and magnetometer survey results. Finds were located just below the plough zone and the actual find layer was only some 0.1m thick. No stone walls were found, but there was an extensive layer of roof tiles and some remains of mud-brick walls. The pottery consisted mainly of storage vessels such as pithoi, jugs and amphorae, but there was also a small quantity of late skyphoi and other drinking cups. Two handles of bronze vessels and a coin were found. Most finds date to the E4th Ct BC, but there are some earlier anomalies such as the unique find of a Laconian pithos rim, the lip of which is decorated with a bud chain, dating to 550−525 BC.

Another trial trench, ca. 4m from the poorly preserved remains of the farmstead, produced more substantial remains of another house. A clear layer of collapsed terracotta roof extended for ca. 15m. In addition, a 0.5m thick stone wall was traced for 3m. The find layer below the collapsed roof was only ca. 0.1m d. and held some pottery, including, e.g., bg sherds and a large piece of a perirrhanterion. The finds in this trench date to the EHel and indicate the existence o at least one other house close to the first one found.

The 3rd site excavated was the small acropolis of Ag. Donatos of Zervochori (PS 25), where the trench opened in 2006 was enlarged and continued. Finds were similar to those made in 2006, mostly dating to the 1st Ct AD and consisting of large amounts of terra sigillata, fibulae (Fig. 1), coins and other metal objects, glass, animal bones and shells. Coarse pottery, parts of a terracotta water pipe and roof tiles (some with stamps) were also found. Thus, the tower, which can be dated to ca. 300 BC, must have been extensively reused in the ERom period. Certain finds already made in 2006 date back to the L4th−E3rd Ct BC. Enlargement of the trench revealed the Rom floor level ca. 1.7m below the surface; this consists of a ca. 0.5m thick layer of gravel mixed with red clay that, through sedimentation, has become hard and cement-like. Beneath this, exposed along the S inner side of the tower, a 0.3−0.4m thick layer consisted of pockets of soil between protruding bedrock and contained charcoal and animal bones mixed with bg pottery, some coarse ware and a coin. These finds probably belong to the construction phase of the tower.