The archaeological site of Elis - 2006
Informations Générales
Numéro de la notice
8307
Année de l'opération
2006
Chronologie
Mots-clés
Nature de l'opération
Institution(s)
Localisation
Toponyme
Elis, Ilis, Palaiopolis
Elis, Ilis, Palaiopolis
Notices et opérations liées
Description
The archaeological site of Elis. Olympia Vikatou (Z’ EΠΚΑ) reports on further excavation at ancient Elis. In 2007 the work was concentrated in the following areas.
Around the theatre in the eastern parodos were stone blocks and a structure made of large pebbles, along with pottery, probably dated to the Prehistoric period.
Square building N was located in the centre of the ancient agora, consisting of an interior colonnaded courtyard and four rooms, one in each corner. Pausanias interpreted the complex as the ‘building of the 16 women’, who were weaving the peplos for Hera’s statue at the Heraion temple. Due to its large size, the building is likely to have had an administrative role. During the 2007 excavations, the eastern and south-eastern sections of the complex were investigated, in which small quantities of mainly plain pottery were collected.
Work was also carried out in the north-eastern part of South Stoa, producing two cist graves and a section of foundation. Pottery sherds, figurines, loom-weights, spindle-whorls and tiles, along with coins and various other metal and stone objects were collected. Small scale excavations were carried out in the area of the temenos, particularly in the south-western corner where two buildings (004 and 007) were investigated. Excavations were also carried out in the south-western and north-western areas of the ancient agora, as well as within the Roman baths and along an ancient road. To the west of the road were wall foundations belonging to private houses or workshops and a ceramic kiln.
Excavations at the Roman baths (building a) were focused in the southern part of the complex where a praefurnium and associated hypocausts were found during the previous year. In the same area were two burials which lacked grave goods, while in the south-western side of the building was a poros foundation of a building which probably predates the bath complex.
Excavations at the Gymnasium baths were focused on the eastern and south-eastern parts of the complex. The eastern part appears to have been an open space in which there were three cisterns for the collection of the rain water, as well as two pipes. Around these were wall foundations and parts of pebble-paved floors. In the west was the western section of the central sewer, oriented on an E-W axis. A further three cisterns and a pipe were found in rooms 14 and 15 of the complex.
In the south-eastern part of sector H and adjacent to the previously investigated Roman building (P), was found a new Roman building located to the south-west of the ancient agora which served as a bath. In this same area were found the remains of private houses including the so called ‘House of Muses’ which was decorated with mosaics.
Excavations in the main town were carried out in buildings Γ and Ζ, located along street III and a side road leading from it, respectively. Large quantities of pottery were collected, along with coins. Investigations were also carried out in the southern part of the city and in particular at the intersection of streets I and II, as well as to the north of building ΣΤ which had been excavated in previous years. The structural remains identified were named ΣT/A. The exterior layout of the building was mapped and a room in its south-western corner fully excavated. In the eastern part of the room was a sewage pipe, while outside of its north-eastern corner were two storage pithoi. Pottery and coins of the Roman/Late Roman period were collected.
Around the theatre in the eastern parodos were stone blocks and a structure made of large pebbles, along with pottery, probably dated to the Prehistoric period.
Square building N was located in the centre of the ancient agora, consisting of an interior colonnaded courtyard and four rooms, one in each corner. Pausanias interpreted the complex as the ‘building of the 16 women’, who were weaving the peplos for Hera’s statue at the Heraion temple. Due to its large size, the building is likely to have had an administrative role. During the 2007 excavations, the eastern and south-eastern sections of the complex were investigated, in which small quantities of mainly plain pottery were collected.
Work was also carried out in the north-eastern part of South Stoa, producing two cist graves and a section of foundation. Pottery sherds, figurines, loom-weights, spindle-whorls and tiles, along with coins and various other metal and stone objects were collected. Small scale excavations were carried out in the area of the temenos, particularly in the south-western corner where two buildings (004 and 007) were investigated. Excavations were also carried out in the south-western and north-western areas of the ancient agora, as well as within the Roman baths and along an ancient road. To the west of the road were wall foundations belonging to private houses or workshops and a ceramic kiln.
Excavations at the Roman baths (building a) were focused in the southern part of the complex where a praefurnium and associated hypocausts were found during the previous year. In the same area were two burials which lacked grave goods, while in the south-western side of the building was a poros foundation of a building which probably predates the bath complex.
Excavations at the Gymnasium baths were focused on the eastern and south-eastern parts of the complex. The eastern part appears to have been an open space in which there were three cisterns for the collection of the rain water, as well as two pipes. Around these were wall foundations and parts of pebble-paved floors. In the west was the western section of the central sewer, oriented on an E-W axis. A further three cisterns and a pipe were found in rooms 14 and 15 of the complex.
In the south-eastern part of sector H and adjacent to the previously investigated Roman building (P), was found a new Roman building located to the south-west of the ancient agora which served as a bath. In this same area were found the remains of private houses including the so called ‘House of Muses’ which was decorated with mosaics.
Excavations in the main town were carried out in buildings Γ and Ζ, located along street III and a side road leading from it, respectively. Large quantities of pottery were collected, along with coins. Investigations were also carried out in the southern part of the city and in particular at the intersection of streets I and II, as well as to the north of building ΣΤ which had been excavated in previous years. The structural remains identified were named ΣT/A. The exterior layout of the building was mapped and a room in its south-western corner fully excavated. In the eastern part of the room was a sewage pipe, while outside of its north-eastern corner were two storage pithoi. Pottery and coins of the Roman/Late Roman period were collected.
Auteur de la notice
Michael Loy
Références bibliographiques
ΑDelt 56-59 (2001-2004)Chr. 484-496, ADelt 62 (2007) Chr., 447-451
Légende graphique :
localisation de la fouille/de l'opération
localisation du toponyme
polygone du toponyme Chronique
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Date de création
2020-05-29 16:24:49
Dernière modification
2024-01-17 09:39:13