Archaeological Site of Elis - 2008
Informations Générales
Numéro de la notice
8324
Année de l'opération
2008
Chronologie
Mots-clés
Espace public - Nécropole - Bains - Sépulture - Installation hydraulique - Citerne - Lampe - Monnaie - Mosaïque - Parure/toilette - Revêtements (mur et sol) - Sculpture - Métal - Os - Pierre - Verre
Nature de l'opération
Institution(s)
Localisation
Toponyme
Elis, Ilis, Palaiopolis
Elis, Ilis, Palaiopolis
Notices et opérations liées
Description
Archaeological Site of Elis. Olympia Vikatou (Ζ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on continuing excavations at the ancient town of Elis (Fig. 11).
Building N is located at the heart of the ancient agora, about 100 m. north-west of the theatre. It consisted of two rooms (5.65×5.45 m. and 5.85×5.75 m.) and two larger spaces. The latter included hall 1 (12.50×6.50 m.), found in the central part of the eastern side of the building between the two rooms and hall 2 (16.50×6.50 m.), located in the central part of the southern side of the building (Fig. 1). The finds point to use of the building as a cemetery during the Late Roman/Early Christian periods. In total 29 graves were found scattered throughout the building, with eight excavated this year. Most were tile covered single interments with the bodies in extended position facing east, along with one pot (pointed amphora) burial. Very few grave goods were recovered. In previous years, clusters of Late Roman tile covered graves were located in the area of the ancient Theatre and Agora, pointing to the decline of the town. Additional finds included pottery, mainly Hellenistic, along with loom-weights, spindle-whorls, lamps, clay stamps, figurines, architectural fragments, nails, tesserae, bronze objects and jewellery, ground stones, coins as well as a stone head of a bearded man.
The Hellanodikai Stoa produced a burial in a pointed pithos (2.03 m. long by 1.23 m. in diameter) with exterior plastic decoration. On its side in an E-W orientation, it was covered with river pebbles and reddish brown soil and its stomion was sealed with a rectangular sandstone slab. The female skeleton was very badly preserved, while grave goods included a clay oenochoe (Fig. 2). a bronze omphalos phiale with relief decoration (Fig. 3), two banded rings, two iron fibulae and a gold hair-ring (sphikoteras). The burial was dated to the Hellenistic period, while a bronze phiale which was attributed to an earlier period was considered by the excavator to be an heirloom.
Investigations at the Gymnasium bath were concentrated in room 17 in the southern wing of the complex, where a well was found and which had an internal and external diameter of 1.02 m. and 0.89 m. respectively. It was internally dressed with clay rings set with lead joints, while its rim was surrounded by a pebble floor. The excavations revealed the overall plan of the building, laid out on an E-W axis and consisting of 17 rooms. It was built using the opus testacaeum system, with walls preserved to a height of 1.10 m., plastered, painted and with marble revetments. The hot rooms were located in the eastern part of the building while a praefurnium lay to the west, with three cisterns for rainwater collection and two sewage pipes to the east. Around the cisterns were the foundations of walls and pebble floors, indicating the presence of an open space. Excavations in the northern part of the complex located the main sewer pipe, aligned on an E-W axis and 32 m. in length. It had an arched roof and side walls of clay bricks and mortar, built using the opus testacaeum system, while the floor was paved with clay slabs. Another four cisterns were excavated in the south-eastern corner of the building, which supplied the cold rooms. These were internally lined with hydraulic plaster and dressed with marble slabs, while between was a sewer pipe leading up to the central cistern (Fig. 4). Additional finds included sherds of plain and black glazed pottery, along with fragments of a mosaic floor and figurines.
Building Rho was located in the south-western part of the ancient town, to the north of the House of the Muses. Excavations revealed the central part of the complex (24.60×14.0 m.), along with evidence for later repairs, although the main entrance has yet to be found. In the southern wing were hypocausts and a kiln (praefurnium) for the hot baths (caldarium). In the south-eastern corner were three rectangular hot bath cisterns associated with hypocausts, the later with their above ground (suspensura) decorated with white marble. The cisterns were internally lined with hydraulic plaster and had marble revetments. In the middle of the building was a rectangular room paved with white and greyish marble slabs, which may have served as an anointing (unctorium) or changing room. To the south was a door leading to the hot compartments, while another in the north-eastern corner led to a courtyard (atrium) which was paved with a mosaic (5.81×5.50 m.) (Fig. 5). The mosaic was decorated with geometric motifs, animals and plants and was dated to the 2nd or 3rd centuries A.D. To the west were two cisterns with drainage holes, associated with the warm baths (tepidarium). To the west of the unctorium or changing room was a cistern or pool (natation) associated with the cold baths (frigidarium). Hypocausts preserved to their original height (c. 0.80 m.) were located in the north-western corner of the building, while tegulae mammatae were also found (Fig. 6). The excavations also produced large numbers of finds including clay unguent vessels (unguentaria), pottery of various types, brazier-handles, loom-weights, ground stone tools, glass vessels, coins and metal objects.
Investigations in the western part of building ΣΤ/Α set out to assess the phases of construction, the only part excavated so far (Fig. 7). Two major phases were identified, along with a more ephemeral third. The area along Street II retained its commercial character up until the end of the life of the town. The first phase is attributed to the Roman period, the second to the Late Roman/Early Christian and the third to the 6th c. A.D. The finds included large quantities of pottery, coins, clay and metal objects from the two main phases.
Excavations in building Z were focused on the previously investigated rooms (7, 8, 10, 11 and 13), while the eastern and southern ends of the structure were also defined. Large quantities of Roman/Late Roman pottery were retrieved, along with glass vases, small objects, architectural remains and animal bones.
Part of the main sewer of the town ran along the axis of Street III on an E-W orientation. Covered with bricks, spolia and rubble, it was 0.92 m. high by 0.90 m. wide. Additional finds included pottery sherds, metal objects (iron nails and a bronze spoon amongst others), loom-weights, spindle-whorls and coins, along with architectural fragments including a waterspout in the shape of a lion’s head.
Excavations in building H’ were resumed after the first seasons of work (2003-2004). The structure made up the western continuation of the buildings in sector Γ. Walls, pipes and storage pithoi were identified, along with pottery, glass vases, architectural fragments, coins and various other metal objects.
Building N is located at the heart of the ancient agora, about 100 m. north-west of the theatre. It consisted of two rooms (5.65×5.45 m. and 5.85×5.75 m.) and two larger spaces. The latter included hall 1 (12.50×6.50 m.), found in the central part of the eastern side of the building between the two rooms and hall 2 (16.50×6.50 m.), located in the central part of the southern side of the building (Fig. 1). The finds point to use of the building as a cemetery during the Late Roman/Early Christian periods. In total 29 graves were found scattered throughout the building, with eight excavated this year. Most were tile covered single interments with the bodies in extended position facing east, along with one pot (pointed amphora) burial. Very few grave goods were recovered. In previous years, clusters of Late Roman tile covered graves were located in the area of the ancient Theatre and Agora, pointing to the decline of the town. Additional finds included pottery, mainly Hellenistic, along with loom-weights, spindle-whorls, lamps, clay stamps, figurines, architectural fragments, nails, tesserae, bronze objects and jewellery, ground stones, coins as well as a stone head of a bearded man.
The Hellanodikai Stoa produced a burial in a pointed pithos (2.03 m. long by 1.23 m. in diameter) with exterior plastic decoration. On its side in an E-W orientation, it was covered with river pebbles and reddish brown soil and its stomion was sealed with a rectangular sandstone slab. The female skeleton was very badly preserved, while grave goods included a clay oenochoe (Fig. 2). a bronze omphalos phiale with relief decoration (Fig. 3), two banded rings, two iron fibulae and a gold hair-ring (sphikoteras). The burial was dated to the Hellenistic period, while a bronze phiale which was attributed to an earlier period was considered by the excavator to be an heirloom.
Investigations at the Gymnasium bath were concentrated in room 17 in the southern wing of the complex, where a well was found and which had an internal and external diameter of 1.02 m. and 0.89 m. respectively. It was internally dressed with clay rings set with lead joints, while its rim was surrounded by a pebble floor. The excavations revealed the overall plan of the building, laid out on an E-W axis and consisting of 17 rooms. It was built using the opus testacaeum system, with walls preserved to a height of 1.10 m., plastered, painted and with marble revetments. The hot rooms were located in the eastern part of the building while a praefurnium lay to the west, with three cisterns for rainwater collection and two sewage pipes to the east. Around the cisterns were the foundations of walls and pebble floors, indicating the presence of an open space. Excavations in the northern part of the complex located the main sewer pipe, aligned on an E-W axis and 32 m. in length. It had an arched roof and side walls of clay bricks and mortar, built using the opus testacaeum system, while the floor was paved with clay slabs. Another four cisterns were excavated in the south-eastern corner of the building, which supplied the cold rooms. These were internally lined with hydraulic plaster and dressed with marble slabs, while between was a sewer pipe leading up to the central cistern (Fig. 4). Additional finds included sherds of plain and black glazed pottery, along with fragments of a mosaic floor and figurines.
Building Rho was located in the south-western part of the ancient town, to the north of the House of the Muses. Excavations revealed the central part of the complex (24.60×14.0 m.), along with evidence for later repairs, although the main entrance has yet to be found. In the southern wing were hypocausts and a kiln (praefurnium) for the hot baths (caldarium). In the south-eastern corner were three rectangular hot bath cisterns associated with hypocausts, the later with their above ground (suspensura) decorated with white marble. The cisterns were internally lined with hydraulic plaster and had marble revetments. In the middle of the building was a rectangular room paved with white and greyish marble slabs, which may have served as an anointing (unctorium) or changing room. To the south was a door leading to the hot compartments, while another in the north-eastern corner led to a courtyard (atrium) which was paved with a mosaic (5.81×5.50 m.) (Fig. 5). The mosaic was decorated with geometric motifs, animals and plants and was dated to the 2nd or 3rd centuries A.D. To the west were two cisterns with drainage holes, associated with the warm baths (tepidarium). To the west of the unctorium or changing room was a cistern or pool (natation) associated with the cold baths (frigidarium). Hypocausts preserved to their original height (c. 0.80 m.) were located in the north-western corner of the building, while tegulae mammatae were also found (Fig. 6). The excavations also produced large numbers of finds including clay unguent vessels (unguentaria), pottery of various types, brazier-handles, loom-weights, ground stone tools, glass vessels, coins and metal objects.
Investigations in the western part of building ΣΤ/Α set out to assess the phases of construction, the only part excavated so far (Fig. 7). Two major phases were identified, along with a more ephemeral third. The area along Street II retained its commercial character up until the end of the life of the town. The first phase is attributed to the Roman period, the second to the Late Roman/Early Christian and the third to the 6th c. A.D. The finds included large quantities of pottery, coins, clay and metal objects from the two main phases.
Excavations in building Z were focused on the previously investigated rooms (7, 8, 10, 11 and 13), while the eastern and southern ends of the structure were also defined. Large quantities of Roman/Late Roman pottery were retrieved, along with glass vases, small objects, architectural remains and animal bones.
Part of the main sewer of the town ran along the axis of Street III on an E-W orientation. Covered with bricks, spolia and rubble, it was 0.92 m. high by 0.90 m. wide. Additional finds included pottery sherds, metal objects (iron nails and a bronze spoon amongst others), loom-weights, spindle-whorls and coins, along with architectural fragments including a waterspout in the shape of a lion’s head.
Excavations in building H’ were resumed after the first seasons of work (2003-2004). The structure made up the western continuation of the buildings in sector Γ. Walls, pipes and storage pithoi were identified, along with pottery, glass vases, architectural fragments, coins and various other metal objects.
Auteur de la notice
Michael Loy
Références bibliographiques
ADelt 64 (2009) Chr., 369-375
Légende graphique :
localisation de la fouille/de l'opération
localisation du toponyme
polygone du toponyme Chronique
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Date de création
2020-06-02 13:06:40
Dernière modification
2024-01-17 09:45:44
Figure(s)
Fig. 1/ Post excavation view of building N
Fig. 2/ Pottery from pithos burial
Fig. 3/ Bronze omphalos phiale from pithos burial
Fig. 4/ Post excavation aerial view of the ‘gymnasium baths’
Fig. 5/ Detail of the mosaic floor, bath building P
Fig. 6/ Post excavation view of building P
Fig. 7/ Post excavation view of building ΣΤ
Fig. 8/ Aerial view of complete excavations