ARTA - Anc. Ambracia - 2002

Arta (anc. Ambracia), Bizaniou Street (D. Phouka and E. Pappa property). P. Gouni (ΙΒ' ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery of late Classical-early Hellenistic construction in an area where activity dates back to the early sixth century. (Fig. 1: 272). Late Byzantine rubbish pits represent the latest activity here.

A 4m-wide section of one of the main north-south axial roads through the city was exposed, with remains of two roadside buildings. The road fabric consisted of sherds and tile in sandy gravel, and a stone-lined drainage channel ran along the north side. This road was initially laid during the Archaic period. The exterior wall (with a street door) and three rooms of the southwest house were revealed. The central room of the house dates to the final, Hellenistic, phase of occupation. At a greater depth lay walls of the late fourth-early third, and the second half of the sixth century, indicating the progressive widening of the room towards the west. Three rooms of the northeast house were found (of which I and II intercommunicate). Room II had a paved floor under which a pit contained a foundation deposit (miniature vessels including amphoriskoi, phialae, exaleiptra, lids, a lamp etc.) of the late fourth – early third century BC. A second, contemporary offering pit was found in the east part of this area. In the middle of the east wall of room III was a stone structure of uncertain function.