GRAMMATIKO, Mavro Vouno - 2009

Grammatiko, Mavro Vouno, Drainage works. E. Mpanou (B’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of finds dating from the Final Neolithic to the Early Byzantine period. The area of the drainage works consists of two hills and a valley between them (Fig. 1). Antiquities were located on the hills only.

North hill: an extensive circular structure was revealed (Figs. 2, 3), which served as a retaining wall. The structure enclosed a deposit containing pottery (Fig. 4), and numerous burnt bones, and obsidian and flint tools (Fig. 5) were founds within its limits. The pottery from the deposit and the surrounding area date the structure to the Final Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. In addition, 6 rock-cut graves were excavated on the east side of the structure. The graves had been covered with schist plaques and contained skeletons in an extended position. One of the graves contained a secondary inhumation and Early Helladic pottery. Another one contained a 6^th c. A.D. jug (Fig. 6). It is highly likely that the graves were originally cut in the early Helladic period and then reused in Early Byzantine times. During this later period, a farmstead was built on the south side of the aforementioned hill (Figs. 7, 8)

South hill: rubble walls delimiting two roofed spaces were excavated (Fig. 9). In addition, numerous rock-cuttings and cairns were found. Finds from the area include Late Hellenistic bronze coins, Late Hellenistic black-glazed pottery sherds and hundreds of sherds from beehives. It appears that beekeeping was practised in this area from the late Classical until the Early Byzantine periods.
About 600 m. E, on the agricultural plot of St. Gika, probable stone walls (obscured by dense vegetation), coarse FN-EHI pottery with quartz and mica inclusions and stone tools (obsidian) were noted.