Sparta - Junction of Triakosion & K. Palaiologou Street - 2010

Junction of Triakosion & K. Palaiologou Street (O.T. 120A, property of P. Stravropoulou and Velika brothers). Maria Tsouli ( Ε’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports that the property of P. Stavropoulou and Velika brothers is located at the S foot of the hill of the Acropolis of Ancient Sparta. The excavations and the discovered finds proved that the area around the Acropolis was widely inhibited in the Byzantine period. 

During the first excavation, eight walls (Τχ1- Τχ8), defining four areas (Χ1-Χ4) were unearthed. Τχ1 is the latest wall that was discovered, dating to the Byzantine period, while Τχ4 dates to the Roman period. Τχ5, was constructed in order to be used as a culvert  wall (culvert 1) along with Τχ4. Underneath the W end of culvert 1, two more walls (Τχ6, Τχ8) dating to the Hellenistic period were discovered. The remains of another culvert (culvert 2) were located in area X1, while a mosaic floor was excavated at the NE part of the property. 

During the second digging phase, the continuation of Τχ1 which is in contact with Τχ9 and Τχ10 came to light. The latter date to the Byzantine period and were possibly related to two more culverts (3 and 4). Structures and artefacts from earlier phases were also identified, such as a Hellenistic storage pithos in area X7 and a cylindrical bin containing Hellenistic black-glazed sherds and a few Roman red-slip sherds. A cistern filled with Roman and a few Hellenistic pot sherds as well as tiles and moulded terracotta figurines were excavated under the Byzantine wall Τχ9 as well. 

At a later phase, the area was used for burials, with four built cist graves (Τφ 1-4) being present. Two were partially preserved, while Τφ 1 and Τφ 3 were looted. During 2009, the Late Roman Τφ4 was excavated, where at its sides an inscription dedicated to Emperor Hadrian along with a catalogue bearing the names of nobles was discovered.

An abundance of various types of glazed Byzantine pottery (10th-beginning of 13th c. AD) was collected mainly from the upper layers. Some examples are, green and brown painted ware, fine and incised sgraffito and champlevé.  Hellenistic and Roman pottery was also present at lower layers. However, Late Classical (Fig. 1)  and Archaic pottery was scarce. Apart from ceramic vessels, iron nails, figurines as well as glass fragments and loom weights were among the finds. 

Apart from a bronze Roman coin of Emperor Gallienus (259-267 AD) found at the disturbed surface layer, the rest of the identified coins date to the Middle Byzantine period (Emperors Romanus IV Diogenes-1067-1071AD, Nikephoros III Botaneiates-(1078–1081 AD) and Manuel I Komnenos-1143-1180 AD.

[Entry created by C. Koureta]