KALAMARIA - 2006

Thessaloniki, E of centre, Kalamaria. M. Tsibidou-Avloniti, A. Kagiouli, K. Kaiafa, E. Lykidou, M. Mandaki and S. Protopsalti (ΙΣτ' ΕΠΚΑ) report on rescue excavation at a number of sites in and neighbouring the deme of Kalamaria. At 21 Alex. Papagou street in Karabournaki, 4 cist graves and 5 rubbish pits immediately neighbouring the excavation site of Karabournaki were cleared. Only 2 graves contained goods: a probable male burial had a local 7th Ct BC red slip bowl and the 2nd burial had a prochous and phiale at the feet and a gold leaf--shape closing the mouth. The pits produced large quantities of plain and decorated, local and imported (Attic, Euboean and Cor) sherds of all the standard types from EIA−Ar. The water table was encountered at a d. of 4m; where possible, a final metre was dug under water. At 9 Papagou street were 13 smaller cist graves cut into the clay soil, again going below the water table: they vary greatly in shape from elliptical or round to completely uncanonical. All contained plain and/or painted EIA−Ar pottery: much sea shell was also collected, including murex.

A series of building plots in the coastal zone on the NW edge of Kalamaria (bounded by Kath. Rossidou, Th. Sofouli, Paradimitriou and Kerasountos streets) provided evidence for large-scale harbour and warehouse installations. These were founded in the 1st quarter of the 4th Ct AD, developed through that Ct, and had a later building phase in the 1st half of the 6th Ct. At 4 Kouskoura street, 2 successive building complexes were located. The earlier had 3 rectangular rooms: 3 pit burials of children lay along the outside face of the exterior wall. A further 3 tombs in the NE corner, marked with tiles, produced very few goods (2 unreadable coins and a bronze ring). Part of a road paved with stone slabs interspersed with tile, and bedded on a layer of tile and small stones, was found in the NW corner of the excavation area and should be associated with this complex. The 2nd, slightly later, complex had 2 rooms, one of which had a white plaster floor and a basement: its continuation (Kath. Rossidou 4) was poorly preserved. Finds consisted of plainwares, lamps, glass vessels, a large quantity of shell and small metal items (e.g., a 4th Ct AD cross-bow fibula characteristic of the dress of a male official). 66 bronze coins date the complex to the reigns of Theodosius I and Arcadius. On the last plot, 2 building complexes were found, the earlier of which covered the W and S sides of the plot: 13 sections of wall in 2 lines separate very fragmentary rooms. In addition to domestic pottery and glass, a few red slip sherds with stamped motifs and a lamp date to the 5th Ct AD. In room A were 2 shallow rubbish pits with large quantities of shell of different species. The continuation of the paved road was uncovered for 12.2m in the NE corner of the plot: cleaning produced 17 coins dating the use of the road to the 4th and 5th Cts AD. In total, the excavation produced 436 coins of which the earliest related to the use of the first phase of buildings in the 2nd half of the 4th and the 5th Cts AD.

The later building A occupies much of the SW part of the excavation area. It is a rectangular structure with oblique corners, covering an area of ca. 40m², of which only the foundations are preserved. The only preserved patch of fill produced amphorae, cookware and a little African Red Slip ware.

Excavation on the corner of Kath. Rossidou and Th. Sofouli street produced evidence of 2 narrow streets in the S and W of the plot, and traces of walling of the earlier building phase. Here too, 2 building phases, 4th and 1st half of the 6th Ct AD, were recognized: a destruction level of the L4th Ct contained much tile and shell. These same phases were traced in neighbouring building plots, with similar finds. Better preserved evidence comes from 22 Kouskoura street, very close by. Within an area of 150m², was a complex with at least 3 phases and 3 infant burials (without offerings). As is generally the case, the upper construction level had the same orientation as the contemporary city plan, while those slightly earlier vary a little on the E−W axis. All 3 buildings are large, continuing beyond the boundaries of the plot. No destruction deposits were found, although there are traces of burning in many areas. Two large pits in the S part of the plot were perhaps clay workings. The fills contain the kind of material already noted: 251 bronze coins covered most of the Imperial reigns of the 4th Ct AD.

The neighbouring excavation plot (on the corner of Kouskoura and Argonafton streets) revealed 2 wells, 3 rubbish pits and 18 tombs (mostly tile covered and disturbed), all of babies or infants without goods (apart from 4 coins of Emperor Valens) and all single burials with the exception of one (tomb 5) which contained 2 enchytrismoi in amphorae. Five more child burials (2 tile graves and 3 enchytrismoi) were found at the W edge of the plot, with no goods apart from one clay cup. On this plot were more than 700 4th Ct bronze coins and much shell of the known types (especially murex).

An indication of the large size of the building complexes in this area is given by an excavation 2 blocks inside Kouskoura street, at 40 Papadimitriou street. Here the substantial walls of a building with 3 rooms (containing a destruction deposit datable to the reign of Justinian I) and a courtyard area were uncovered. Earlier foundations and a temporary floor with 800 associated coins date occupation of this area to the M4th Ct AD. A distinctive form of water channel made of 6 Spatheion-type amphorae (2nd half 4th−1st half 5th Ct) supplied the building. Finds were of the types noted above, including a cup containing pigments.

The name of this extensive settlement remains unknown: a connection with the Kellarion mentioned in Byz sources is possible.