ALIMOS-Alimos Metro Station - 2008

Argyroupoli, Alimos Metro Station, Kontopegado. K. Kaza-Papageorgiou (ΚΣΤ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of a Mycenaean workshop with an extensive water-management system, adjacent to the area of the Early Helladic and Mycenaean settlements (AD 42: 68-68; 48: 66-69). The water-management system consists of four large water channels and 41 rock-cut shafts (Figs 1,2). Most shafts are square-shaped with rounded corners, and all of them are connected together via smaller channels (Figs 3,4).

A Mycenaean wall was excavated south of the shafts and appears to have belonged to the enclosure of the workshop. Additionally, 7 wells were found: 3 Mycenaean and 4 Classical. One of the Mycenaean wells had been used as a deposit and contained numerous LH IIIB-IIIC and few LHIIIA pottery sherds.

Finds from the area of the workshop include Mycenaean kylikes, skyphoi, craters, lekanes, jugs, amphorae, hydrias, cooking pots and numerous bathtubs (Fig 5). Many of the latter were found in situ (Fig 6). Finally, numerous figurines, few steatite whorls and pieces of obsidian were also found.

The workshop dates in the 13^th-12^th C. B.C. and was used for the processing of flax. It could have also accommodated activities like basket weaving. Numerous partially-fired sherds (Fig 7) indicate that a large ceramic workshop was also in operation in the area. Nevertheless, the exact location of the latter remains unclear.

The south part of the Mycenaean workshop (Fig 8) appears to have also been used in the Classical period (5^th and 4^th c.). Finds from this period include numerous pottery sherds, loom weights, fragments from pithoi, and black-glazed fragments from a kernos. During this period the workshop was either used for the processing of flax or wool.

N. Mouka and P. Koutis worked at the excavation.