DELOS Heraion - 2008

Heraion. H. Sarian (EfA/ São Paolo) reports on the 2008 excavation season (Fig. 1).
The most important results came from exploration of the terrace W of the Heraion: here parts of 2 walls (X and Y), which run parallel N-S, had been discovered in 1964, along with a layer containing Geo sherds. Renewed excavation revealed that these walls continue S and N of the W terrace.
The westernmost wall lies under the peribolos of temple II, for which it serves as a foundation. Although it disappears towards the SW, its NE angle has been recovered. Wall Y is at a significantly greater depth, in the Geo layer noted above. At both the S and N, it makes an angle and continues to the E. Wall Y was very likely the peribolos for the first stage of temple I. The associated layer is full of sherds, including LGeo fragments. Vessels of this period have already been recovered from the sanctuary’s votive deposit. The earliest level in the sanctuary, until recently dated to 700 BC, should therefore be set back to the LGeo period (750−725 BC).