KORYTIANI - 2001

Korytiani (irrigation of the Riziani-Korytiani plain). G. Riginos (Η’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports the discovery of antiquities at four locations.

Inside the Early Christian basilica excavated in 2000 south of the national road from Igoumenitsa to Ioannina, three cist tombs oriented east-west contained single inhumations in extended, supine position. Two contained Early Christian/Early Byzantine glass lachrymateria.

North of the national road and east of modern Kato Korytiani, a kiln for firing pottery and brick was found. Built of brick and with a strong plaster coating over the entire interior, the rectangular firing chamber is preserved to a height of 0.8m, along with part of the vaulted stoking tunnel. The compressed gravel floor of the chamber had traces of strong burning: the interior partition walls and parts of the firing grill were also preserved.

Ca 300m northwest of the kiln, the partially preserved foundation of a rectangular stone building was excavated, preserving part of a stone-paved floor. The structure was built of limestone (unworked stones and slabs) packed with mud, stones and stone chips. The quantity of stone tumbled in the area implies that the superstructure was largely of stone. Finds (rooftile and plain domestic pottery) were too few to characterise the function of the building, although they indicate a late antique date.

A brief excavation north of the national road, ca 30m west of the Roman bath excavated in 2000, revealed large quantities of pottery (including combed ware), glass vessels, two bronze coins, a bronze hook and an earring, bronze and iron nails and other metal items. No architectural remains were found, but the site directly neighbours the ancient settlement of the area previously reported by S. Dakaris.