Sparta - Pantanassis Street. Georgios Tsiaggouris (Ephorate of Antiquities of Lakonia) reports the following:

Rescue excavations by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Laconia in the southwest part of the modern town of Sparta since 1995 have brought to light an extensive EH II settlement, which extended on both sides of the Magoulitsa stream (ancient river Knakion). In the Stavropoulos plot, on Pantanassis Street, architectural remains of the EH II period were discovered, along with...

Sparta. Maria Tsouli (Ephorate of Antiquities of Lakonia) reports the following:

Recent research has taken place on the funerary landscape of Roman Sparta, concerning the organized cemeteries in the southern part of the city, as well as the monumental funerary buildings at Sparta’s periphery. In particular, there has been recent excavation conducted at the Karavassos plot (in Sparta’s BB 155), where a new funerary construction of monumental dimensions came to light. There are...

Sparta - Kyprou Street, Urban Blocks 143 and 144. M. Tsouli, L. Souchleris, A. Kiakou, and G. Tsiaggouris (E’ EPKA) report on the excavation held in these two urban blocks, due to the digging of construction trenches, in the junction of Kyprou and Pantanassis Street. The trenches of Urban Block 143 revealed a box-shaped grave (fig. 1, 2), oriented (E/SE-W/NW) covered by marble architectural spolia, probably dated in the Roman times. The trenches of Urban Block 144 revealed architectural...

Sparta - Ag. Eirini, Regional Motorway between Sparta and Mystras. Leonidas Souhleris (E’ EPKA) reports on the excavation held in the Ag. Eirini area of the motorway between Sparta and Mystras. The excavation was held due to the construction of a municipal park, and it revealed part of an early Roman cemetery and architectural remains dating between the Hellenistic and the Roman times (fig. 1).

The burials were located in the NE part of the park, close to the motorway (fig. 2)....

Sparta - Chamaretou Street (Ο.Τ. 55, property of Ι. Chalkiadaki). Maria Tsouli (E’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports that excavation works took place at the property of I. Chalkiadaki in 2013 (Fig. 1). Only a few architectural remains were discovered, mainly at the E part of the site. Two walls (Tχ1 and Tχ2), both made of two lines of crude stones were discovered. In close proximity to Τχ1, an intact lamp depicting two warriors in Thracian style (second half of 1st- first half of 2nd c. AD) was...

Sparta, Protection, shaping, presentation and integration of the archaeological sites of Sparta (Fig. 1). Chara Giannakaki and Afroditi Vlachou (Ε ΕΠΚΑ) report on excavation research in the Dichoncho (double-apsed) building. The interior of the building was investigated and it was discovered that over time many repairs, changes, and additions had occurred. In the S part of the central space, 2 storage granaries were found of the post-Byzantine period. While in the space between the...

Sparta, Intersection of Archidamos and Lykourgos Streets (O.T. 53, property of I. Valioti). Afroditi Maltezou (Ε ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of part of a cemetery and deposit in the NE part of the property (Fig. 1). The deposit was partially carved into the natural bedrock in the NE corner. It contained fragments of tiles, lumps of clay, pottery, and many plaques and a few figurines. Also, 2 clay moulds were found. The finds suggest that the deposit was used as the dump of a...

Sparta, Agios Nikon Street (O.T. 45, property of A. Katsari). Afrofditi Maltezou (Ε ΕΠΚΑ) reports that in the whole area of the property ancient building remains were found (Fig.1). An ancient road with the orientation N/NW-S/SE (Fig. 2) ran through the central section of the property. The top layers of the street are fragmentary because of modern structures that exist in the same space. Six successive street surfaces made of beaten earth, gravel, pebbles, and small fragments of pottery...

Sparta, Intersection of Chamaretos and Orestes streets (O.T. 49a, property of the company of V. Koulogeorgiou and SIA AE). Afroditi Maltezou (Ε ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of a Roman cemetery in the E part of the property and 2 deposits in the W (Fig. 1), from which pottery of the Archaic-Classical until the Hellenistic period was collected. The antiquities had been partially destroyed by a modern building. In the cemetery, a burial building was recovered, clusters of built cist...

Sparta, Leonidas Street (O.T. 123, property of G. Papadakos). Afroditi Maltezou (Ε ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of antiquities in the E section of the property; if there were remains in the W part, they were destroyed by a modern building (Fig. 1). The property lies close to the acropolis of ancient Sparta. A street with NE-SW orientation runs through the central part of the excavation. Only fragments of this street were exposed and it was made from beaten earth and gravel. Within the...

Sparta, Il. Gkortsologou Street (OT 124, property of N. Rapatas). Afroditi Maltezou (Ε ΕΠΚΑ) reports on building remains from the Hellenistic to the Middle Byzantine period on this property that is S of the Acropolis of Sparta (Fig. 1-2). The antiquities were so dense that the natural bedrock was reached in only a few spots. In the first building phase, a large built drainage system was found in the W part of the property. Two phases were distinguished in its use. The first phase (Wall...

Sparta, Brasidas Street 104 (O.T. 41, property of the company Katsaris AE). Afroditi Maltezou (Ε ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of part of a villa of the Roman/late Roman period (Fig. 1-2). Two mosaic floors were found in the villa. The extant fragments are decorated with geometric patterns; the water plaster substratum of a third mosaic floor was also found. Among the remains there are also built channels and clay pipelines. A well was found in the SW part of the property, framed by 2...

Sparta, Kallikratida Street (OT 131, property of A. Koutsari – M. Theofilakou and A and D Papadopoulou). Christina Kakourou (Ε ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of antiquities from the Protogeometric to the Late Roman period. A large part of the Koutsari property is occupied by a mosaic floor (Fig 1; 13.10 x 14.50 m) made from small white, black and red tiles. It combines figural, geometric, and vegetative decoration. To the E of the central scene there is a signature of the artist:...

Sparta - Urban Block 189 (property of the New Archaeological Museum of Sparta). Maria Tsouli (E’ EPKA), reports on the excavation held in the aforementioned area, following a number of trial trenches conducted between October and December 2011. The area revealed extensive ancient remains, including small findings and a large sepulchral monument, dated between the Hellenistic and the Roman times.

The excavation began in the S sector of this area, which mostly revealed Hellenistic...

Sparta. The Ε’ ΕΠΚΑ presents an overview of the results of rescue excavation in the decade 2000-2010. Early Helladic settlement has been found in the southwest part of the modern city and in the neighbouring area of Ag. Irini, close to the modern Magoulitsa stream. Levels rich in pottery and with a few remains of buildings have been revealed below Hellenistic and Roman constructions on the Laphogianni, Mavridi-Katsari, Dimitrakopoulou-Zachariadi and Sokou-Koutakou plots, among others....

Sparta, Polydendro. The Ε’ ΕΠΚΑ reports the discovery of a Mycenaean cemetery with tholos and built cist...

Sparta, Ancient Acropolis of Sparta (Byzantine Church at the ‘Circular Building’). Angeliki Mexia (5th EBA) reports on further excavations of the church, on the south slope of the acropolis hill, that was built in contact with the western end of the retaining wall of the so-called ‘circular building’ and whose contour was mostly revealed by Chr. Christou during excavations of that monument. In 2009 exploratory work was undertaken to completely reveal the church’s external outline...

Sparta, unopened cul-de-sac of ALKMANOS STREET (O.T. 127, property of Al. Rigou). Maria Florou (5th EBA) reports on the completion of excavations on the site that began in 2008. In 2009, from all six excavation sectors, fills were removed to a depth from 1 to 2 m, while in the 2010 excavation period, from 0.50 to 1.50 m, and all the baulks were removed.

The fills contained antiquities dating to the Byzantine era. A large amount of glazed ceramics, with roughly incised, finely...

Sparta, Platanista Street (O.T. 127, alleged property of G. Kalopisi). Maria Florou (5th EBA) reports on continuing excavations of the site in 2010. In 10 excavation sectors fills were removed and fragmentary surviving architectural remains of Byzantine and later Roman times were identified (Fig. 1).

The antiquities revealed generally have a NE-SW orientation and include sections of walls and built-in pipes, as well as poorly preserved mosaic flooring. From the Byzantine period...

Sparta - Alkmanos Street (O.T. 130, property of ΟΣΚ). M. Tsouli, G. Tsiaggouris and V. Papadopoulos (Ε΄ΕΠΚΑ) report that the property of ΟΣΚ is located 300 m. away from the ancient theatre of Sparta, at an area where architectural remains of the late antiquity have previously been found. Trial trenches were opened during 1999, proving that architectural remains were present in the entirety of the property. The finds form the salvage excavations date mainly between the 2nd and the...

Sparta theatre. C. Morgan (Director, BSA), A. Vasilogamvrou (Director, Ε' ΕΠΚΑ) and K. Diamanti (Director, 5th EBA) report on the first season of excavation in the anc. theatre, focusing on investigation of the extent and nature of LRom and Byz use of the space, and combining new excavation with reappraisal of BSA work in the 1920s. Excavation was conducted in the W part of the middle and upper cavea in order to locate the SW edge of the LAntique settlement on the acropolis and to...

Sparta, Alkmanos Street (O.T. 128, property of Mpimpa-Spyridakou). Aggeliki Mexia (5th ΕΒΑ) reports on the discovery of an arch in a SE orientation which belonged to a building which was internally decorated with a floor mosaic (Fig. 1). The arch was three-sided externally and semi-circular within. Although solid it was not carefully made, built with rubble, fragments of bricks and abundant mortar. Based on the higher level of the mosaic floor, the excavator believes that the arch was part...

Sparta, O.T. 127 (property of Al. Rigou). Maria Florou (5th ΕΒΑ) reports on the excavation of rubble walls and floors as well as undecorated and post Byzantine glazed pottery, various clay and metal objects, amorphous masses of iron and copper and one bronze coin. This plot belongs to a wider area where many Roman and Byzantine building remains were found (Fig....

Sparta, Lysandrou Street (O.T. 127, property of Vr. Leopoulou). Maria Florou (5th ΕΒΑ) reports on the discovery of a road surface aligned on a N/NE-S/SW orientation, consisting of successive layers of beaten earth, pebbles, tile fragments and pottery sherds. The road led up to the acropolis of the ancient city of Sparti and was probably part of the complex road system that was developed south of the city during the Roman period. Along both side of the road were parts of rubble walls and five...

Sparta, Platanista Street (O.T. 127, property of N. Panoutsakou). Maria Florou (5th ΕΒΑ)reports on further excavations in an area in which there were three burials (VII, VIII, IX) and parts of walls, all on a NW-SE orientation (Fig. 1). Burial VII was covered by a stone slab and its walls were made of rubble and mud. The base of a column was incorporated into its north-eastern side and a clay marker slab was placed vertically at the head of the grave. The floor was made of tile fragments...

Sparta theatre. C. Morgan (Director, BSA), A. Vasilogamvrou (Director, Ε' ΕΠΚΑ) and K. Diamanti (Director, 5th EBA) report on the first season of a 5-year investigation of the anc. theatre in preparation for its conservation and public presentation. In 2007, the BSA undertook 2 non-intrusive surveys, to trace the extent of theatral and later antique remains in the koilon with a view to future excavation, and to contribute to the assessment of immediate and medium term conservation needs....

Sparta, Alkman Street (Ο.Τ. 128, property of A. Biba and S. Spyridakou). K. Diamanti (then Director, 5th EBA) reports on rescue excavation in 2007 which revealed the mosaic floor (fig. 1) and foundation of the apse (three-sided on the exterior and curved on the interior, oriented southeast) of an Early Christian basilica probably of the late fifth or early sixth century AD. The apse was built of unworked stones and cement with tile in the interstices. The mosaic extens into the...

Sparta, Platanista Street (O.T. 127, property of N. Panoutsakou). Maria Florou (5th EBA) reports on further excavations at the property, with extensions in the northern and eastern areas. Parts of walls made of rubble and mud, as well as more substantial ones of rubble and bricks bound with mortar were identified (Fig. 1). In the south and western parts of the property were fragments of four Roman and Late Roman pipes. Roman pipe I ran close to and in parallel with wall 6, aligned on a NW-SE...

Sparta. Alcman and Lysander Street (O.T. 127, E. Philippopoulou property). A. Bakourou and E. Katsara (5th EBA) report further investigation (in 2000-2002 and 2006) of a Byzantine olive press in an area where a basilica and Middle Byzantine bath have previously been found (see ADelt 53 [1998] Chr, 221). The proximity of the press to these buildings reflects its public character and place in local town planning. The conglomerate press-stone was located, plus two further stones which form part...

Sparta, Platanista Street (O.T. 127, property of N. Panoutsakou). M. Florou (5th EBA) reports the discovery of Late Roman to Byzantine architectural remains. The foundations were found of a Late Roman building of unknown function (16 x 6m, oriented northeast-southwest). To the east of it., adjoining its narrow side, was a wall (2.6 x 2.6m) with a foundation of stone blocks and horizontal layers of bricks and mortar. The upper surface of the wall was covered with square terracotta tiles engraved...