POLYNERI Kastri - 2006

Kastri (Polyneri/Alatopetras). S. Drougou (Aristotelian University, Thessaloniki) reports on continuing excavation on the acropolis, focusing on the area immediately W of the temple. The W wall of the temple was shown to have had strong foundations, even though much of the superstructure was likely burnt in the mod. lime kiln found just outside it. Inside the wall was a layer with much roof tile. An extensive burnt layer dating to the L4th Ct BC was uncovered just to the W of the W wall, continuing along its length. This contained many bg and plainware sherds, and fragments of metal items, and should be connected with the temple walls of the same date. A small Hel (3rd Ct) building was erected on top of this layer. Its function remains unclear, but the tile layer over it indicates that it was destroyed in the 2nd Ct BC as part of the general destruction on the acropolis. The area between the temple and the Hel building produced a large quantity of animal bone, especially in the burnt layer, along with numerous sherds. The extent of this pyre has not yet been traced. In the NW corner of the temple, which is founded on bedrock, foundations were located which appear to be extensions of the N and W temple walls and which require further investigation. Among portable finds, the large quantity of bg pottery characteristic of the first, 4th Ct, phase consists largely of small kylikes and kantharoi. Some have workshop stamps (ΠΑΡΑΝΙΚΑΣ for example). Notable among the portable finds is an ink-well type lamp, coins (including one of Alexander) and a fragment of a bronze strip 0.1 x 0.6m, from the L4th Ct burnt layer, bearing part of a punched votive inscription: