ROMANOU - 2010

Π.Ο.Τ.Α. Romanou, Pylias. The ΛH’ΕΠΚΑ reports the excavation, in the area of the golf course, of an extensive Early Helladic settlement (2700-2250 BC) (fig. 1), with a road dividing the western part (fig. 2). In the eastern part were workshops for obsidian and bronze working. A 3m-deep well with surround of fieldstones contained a dump of EH II pottery including more than 200 almost intact vessels (fig. 3). In the southwest of the plot was a damaged and looted Mycenaean tholos tomb containing human and animal bone, and a few surviving offerings (notably a small bronze pyxis). The construction of the tholos, its short dromos, and the surviving pottery indicate an LH I date (fig. 4).

In another part of the plot, a large Protogeometric funerary pithos contained a single burial with ten intact vases (fig. 5).

In the same area, a long Archaic building (probably a temple), oriented east-west, had an internal colonnade and an undisturbed destruction deposit. The building remained in use into the Early Hellenistic period (fig. 6). Just to the west of the temple was an open air shrine with a large quantity of seventh-century BC terracotta figurines of Potnia Theron type.

Excavation in the northwest of the plot revealed a large Hellenistic rural residence with a central court surrounded by rooms. A rectangular hearth was found on the west side (fig. 7).