Asine - 2010

Acropolis of Asine. Christos Piteros (Δ’ΕΠΚΑ) reports on a trial excavation at the SE boundary of the excavated site of the lower acropolis of Asine to investigate the surviving upper archaeological strata of the acropolis. A section of the foundations of Wall no. 1 (S-N) was uncovered (Fig. 1). The foundation apparently continued further south, but was destroyed by excavations of the Swedish Archaeological Mission, which proceeded to deeper strata. The foundation of upper Wall no. 1 was found to continue further north for a distance of 8.7 m, as the SW corner of the more deeply founded cells. Shells and roof tiles date the foundations to the 2nd Venetian period. A kiln from the same time was found W of the acropolis. The foundations correspond to a rectangular building with S-N orientation. Upon deeper excavation another section of foundation was found (no.2) constructed from stones and earth, running W-E. Based on the pottery, Wall 2 dates to 5-7th c. AD. The oldest small three-aisled church, whose foundations lie beneath and to the north of the church of Panagia, also dates to this period. Considering that, in addition to the three-aisled church, at that time a great reconstruction of the walls on the north and north-east sides was made and a new Byzantine wall was built inside the western Hellenistic walls that had collapsed, a reconstruction of the main northern gate of the Acropolis and two new small gates were opened in the northwest, the acropolis of Asine was critical to the wider region.

[Entry created by E. Strazdins]