Ancient Helike - 2020
Informations Générales
Numéro de la notice
8560
Année de l'opération
2020
Chronologie
Mots-clés
Nature de l'opération
Institution(s)
Localisation
Toponyme
Nikolaiika
Nikolaiika
Notices et opérations liées
20072020
Description
Ancient Helike. Systematic excavations of the Geometric and Archaic phases in the Sanctuary of Helikonian Poseidon at Nikoleïka Aigialeias 7.5km east of the modern city of Aigio recovered significant finds representing different chronological phases of the cult centre of the ancient Achaian city of Helike destroyed by earthquake in 375 BC (Fig. 1). Specifically excavated at the site were: an apsidal Geometric temple of 710-700 BC, a mudbrick altar of 760-750 BC, which formed the focus of worship before the construction of the apsidal temple, as well as tiling from a later temple of 550 BC.
Research is being carried out in the context of a two-year programme of the Directorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, under the direction of Drs Erofili Kolia (Director of the EfA of Eleia) and Anastasia Gadolou (Director of the Section of Prehistoric and Classical Sites and Monuments, Ministry of Culture & Sports). The aim of the programme is to interpret the different phases of this significant ritual centre of the ancient city of Helike, as well as the socio-political characteristics of the society at the time through study of the architectural remains and of the offerings made to the worshipped deity.
In the last season of fieldwork, parts of the tiling of the Archaic temple came to light, as well as part of the hair (curls) in clay, probably part of the pedimental decoration of the Archaic temple. At a lower level, a wall orientated N-S was excavated, probably part of a building of the 8th century BC (Fig. 2) and, to its east, a layer with consumption vessels (kantharoi, skyphoi, oinochoai, and an amphoriskos) together with animal bones and remains of burning (Figs 3-4). According to the excavators, these are probably remains of ritual meals and offer particularly important information for the study of the ritual and social characteristics of the community. Also discovered were bronze objects and iron spear points (Fig. 5), as well as parts of unfired mudbrick with plaster preserving red colour.
Laboratory analysis of the above metallic and structural finds, in collaboration with the National Metsovion Polytechnic, are expected to clarify technological developments in the period. The above, in conjunction with the study of animal bones by a zooarchaeological specialist (Eleni Psathi) and study of the remains of fruit and other organic remains that came from soil flotation of deposits carried out by archaeobotanical experts (Prof. Evi Margariti and doctoral candidate Kyriaki Tsirtsi), demonstrate the interdisciplinarity of this particular archaeological project, vital for the collection of as much scientific information as possible in order to study the ancient community which founded and operated this important ritual and religious centre. Planning and photogrammetric documentation of all the excavated levels were carried out by the architect Vangelis Malkakis to ensure full archaeological documentation.
Participants in this year’s season were archaeologists and the civil engineer of the Ministry of Culture & Sports: Georgia Ivou, Panagiota Skiadopoulou, Sotiria Stoungioti, Aristea Dimitriou, Vasiliki Papagianni and Konstantinos Papadopoulos; additional participants were graduates and students of the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Ioannina and of the Department of Geology of the University of Patras. The support of the EfA of Achaia was very important, as was the financial and material contribution of the Public Benefit Municipal Enterprise (ΔΚΕ) of the Dimos of Aigialeia, the company Singer France, and the Organismos Paratheristikon Kentron Ergazomenon (ΟΠΑΚΕ) of the COSMOTE group.
Research is being carried out in the context of a two-year programme of the Directorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, under the direction of Drs Erofili Kolia (Director of the EfA of Eleia) and Anastasia Gadolou (Director of the Section of Prehistoric and Classical Sites and Monuments, Ministry of Culture & Sports). The aim of the programme is to interpret the different phases of this significant ritual centre of the ancient city of Helike, as well as the socio-political characteristics of the society at the time through study of the architectural remains and of the offerings made to the worshipped deity.
In the last season of fieldwork, parts of the tiling of the Archaic temple came to light, as well as part of the hair (curls) in clay, probably part of the pedimental decoration of the Archaic temple. At a lower level, a wall orientated N-S was excavated, probably part of a building of the 8th century BC (Fig. 2) and, to its east, a layer with consumption vessels (kantharoi, skyphoi, oinochoai, and an amphoriskos) together with animal bones and remains of burning (Figs 3-4). According to the excavators, these are probably remains of ritual meals and offer particularly important information for the study of the ritual and social characteristics of the community. Also discovered were bronze objects and iron spear points (Fig. 5), as well as parts of unfired mudbrick with plaster preserving red colour.
Laboratory analysis of the above metallic and structural finds, in collaboration with the National Metsovion Polytechnic, are expected to clarify technological developments in the period. The above, in conjunction with the study of animal bones by a zooarchaeological specialist (Eleni Psathi) and study of the remains of fruit and other organic remains that came from soil flotation of deposits carried out by archaeobotanical experts (Prof. Evi Margariti and doctoral candidate Kyriaki Tsirtsi), demonstrate the interdisciplinarity of this particular archaeological project, vital for the collection of as much scientific information as possible in order to study the ancient community which founded and operated this important ritual and religious centre. Planning and photogrammetric documentation of all the excavated levels were carried out by the architect Vangelis Malkakis to ensure full archaeological documentation.
Participants in this year’s season were archaeologists and the civil engineer of the Ministry of Culture & Sports: Georgia Ivou, Panagiota Skiadopoulou, Sotiria Stoungioti, Aristea Dimitriou, Vasiliki Papagianni and Konstantinos Papadopoulos; additional participants were graduates and students of the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Ioannina and of the Department of Geology of the University of Patras. The support of the EfA of Achaia was very important, as was the financial and material contribution of the Public Benefit Municipal Enterprise (ΔΚΕ) of the Dimos of Aigialeia, the company Singer France, and the Organismos Paratheristikon Kentron Ergazomenon (ΟΠΑΚΕ) of the COSMOTE group.
Auteur de la notice
John BENNET
Références bibliographiques
Ministry of Culture & Sports Press Release 19/08/20: https://www.culture.gov.gr/el/Information/SitePages/view.aspx?nID=3423. Rizospastis 20/08/20; Ifimerida ton Syntakton 20/08/20; Naftemboriki 20/08/20; Eleftheros Typos 20/08/20; Avgi 20/08/20
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localisation de la fouille/de l'opération
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Date de création
2020-08-20 16:47:52
Dernière modification
2024-01-19 09:36:08
Figure(s)
Fig. 1/ The destruction of ancient Helike in 375 BC attested in the ancient sources was confirmed during the project by the discovery of a destruction layer of roof-tiles of a building dated precisely through the discovery of a vessel (black-glazed skyphos) of this period.
Fig. 2/ General view of the excavation from the north. The destruction level comprising the tiling of the Archaic temple (550 BC) and the wall of a building of the 8th century BC are visible at various points.
Fig. 3/ Drinking vessels (skyphoi and a kantharos) in the level with remains of burning and animal bones (750-740 BC).
Fig. 4/ A pouring vessel (amphoriskos) in the level with remains of burning and animal bones (750-740 BC).
Fig. 5/ An iron spear-point placed vertically, an offering to the worshipped deity (710-700 BC).