Asine and Tolo - 2024

Argolis - Asine. Niklas Eriksson (Stockholm University) and Ann-Louise Schallin (Stockholm University) report on an ​​​​​underwater archaeological excavation, which was carried out outside the archaeological site Asine, east Tolo, Argolis. This is year 3 of a synergasia between the Greek Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, the SIA, and Stockholm University, with additional participants from Gothenburg University and the company Nordic Maritime Group.

In 2023 when test-trenches were excavated in the seabed in direct connection to the harbour structure, and in 2024 the aim the aim has been to try to find cultural layers and/or artefacts that can be used to date the harbour structure. The excavation, which covered an area of 16m², was concentrated to the seabed next to the north western extension of the platform, where the platform is the well-preserved and appears to have kept much of its original shape (Fig. 1). The area is also closer to the shore than the 2023 trench and the layers of loose sediments were estimated to be thinner (Fig. 2).

The survey showed that significant remains of the stone-built port facility are preserved on the seabed. These consist of fallen material, such as stones and worked building materials. Probably the most important findings are the amphora sherds found in the stone-built structure and the broken vessel in sector 4A (Fig. 3). The assemblages of these fragmentarily preserved vessels suggest that they were deposited during the use of the platform or at the time of its abandonment and collapse. They can therefore be used as clues in the discussion on the dating of the structure. In an area stretching from the trench up to the highest part of the structure the first layer of stones was removed in order to discern if there is any particular order or remains of original constructions within the pile of stones. An additional motif for excavating this profile was to distinguish if there was any pottery or other artefact that could reveal the date of construction.