KARYTAINA Kastro - 2004

Karytaina. E. Yannouli reports on excavation inside the castle by the 5th EBA in 2002 and 2003. Particular attention was paid to a rectangular structure, 5.4 x 4.25m in the centre of the castle. This has a pebble and mortar floor through which the bedrock projected to 0.15m h. in the centre and walls of rough stone and tile in lime mortar, up to 1.45m thick and preserved to 0.3m h. The strong foundation of the S wall, combined with the central location of the structure, imply that it was a defensive tower, and perhaps the Frankish donjon. The building dates to the 13th Ct AD, contemporary with the castle walls. Finds consist of roof tiles with incised and impressed decoration and household pottery, as well as painted and glazed ware, noting one Byz and one Hel or Rom vessel (unique at this site).

A 2nd trench was opened in the central court, in the SW part of the castle. At a d. of 2m were remains of an arched gateway built in limestone (w. 2.3m, d. 1m, h. 2m), set into bedrock; grooves for the opening of the door are preserved in the threshold, plus one of the iron hinges. This was approached via a descending path from the higher courtyard. S of the gateway, 8 walls created a series of 4 small storage areas. These also date from the period of the castle’s construction in the 13th Ct. Pottery dates to the Byz (and in particular, LByz) period, and includes household, painted and glazed wares: most characteristic is a small amphora with decoration typical of the L12th− E13th Ct AD. A coin of Andrea Venier (1382−1400) was also found, plus much shell and animal bone.
A final trench was opened further N, 1.5m from the interior face of the W wall. Four walls of 13th Ct structures were discovered, plus 3 later, probably from the period of the 2nd Tourkokratia. Proximity to the W tower suggests that these may have been auxiliary buildings serving the guard. Cleaning outside the castle provided new data on several matters, notably the building’s defences and access points.