ANTHOCHORI - 2004

Anthochori. E. Zavvou (Epigraphical Museum) publishes finds from the excavations conducted by the former Director of the Ε' ΕΠΚΑ, C. Christou, in the early 1960s, together with the results of fieldwork conducted by the author (then of the Ε' ΕΠΚΑ) in 2004.
The old excavation finds include much EHII and MH pottery (the latter including Dark Burnished and Lustrous Decorated ware), along with LHIIA−LHIIIC. A Myc burial discovered in 1970 on the property of V. Bourazelis in the area of Anthochori includes 2 LHIIA squat jugs. Sherds of Laconian PGeo skyphoi and closed vessels are also noted. Ar and Cl pottery and votives relate to the known sanctuary: fragments of 4 stamped tiles of the 3rd Ct BC preserve the stamp Μεσσαπέος / Δαμόσιοι.
Survey in 2004 showed that archaeological finds concentrate over a large area around the Church of the Metamorphosis, with material of the historical period (bg sherds, pithoi and black-painted tiles) especially to the S, and that of PH periods (EH saucers, Myc kylikes, handmade wares) to the E. Ca. 100m W of the church, on the property of P. Fraghis, an underground circular chamber (1.7m h. and 2.38m di.), with rectangular niches to the N and S of the chamber and a short dromos, was probably a storeroom rather than a tomb: no dating evidence was found.
Rescue excavation on the property of D. Katsoulakos, just to the N of the church, revealed EH architectural remains over an area of 183m². In a lower layer, remains of successive building phases were revealed, with rectilinear houses showing successive additions and alterations. Construction was in stone in the herringbone technique, with a mud-brick superstructure and probably roofing in schist slabs. A large building was exposed in the NW sector of the excavation. Pottery from this lower layer dates early in EHII. Especially in the E sector of the excavation, the poor preservation of walls made it impossible to retrieve individual building plans. The pottery was mostly coarse or semi-coarse, with saucers, deep rounded bowls, basins, pithoi and open jars being the most popular shapes in coarser fabrics; finer wares sometimes have an (often high) polish and/or a red slip, and most finewares or semi-coarsewares have incised or impressed decoration. Stone finds (querns, a mortar, a palette and stone tools) are noted.