EDESSA - 2006

Edessa, S bypass. A. Chrysostomou (ΙΖ' ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the discovery of 3 farmsteads on the plain S of the anc. city during rescue excavation preparatory to the construction of the bypass. Farmsteads 1 and 2 lie on the E of the plain and farmstead 3 on the W. At farmstead 1 (2km from anc. Edessa), limited habitation remains include a hearth with sherds of local storage vessels (pithoid shapes and amphoriskoi) and 4 loomweights scattered around it, and, to the S, a storage area with the remains of a large pithos and amphora sherds. The structure was roofed with Laconian tiles with red and black slip. Local and imported pottery includes a wide range of storage vessels, cooking vessels and tablewares, especially one-handled bowls and skyphoi, which date the earliest phase of habitation to EHel. A tpq for the last phase is provided by a Macedonian coin of the reigns of Philip V and Perseus. Farmstead 2, 2km N of farmstead 1 and 1.7km from Edessa, is a long, narrow building (rooms I−VI), with an approach road from Edessa entering at the NW and flanked by rooms VII−IX. The structure had a Laconian-tiled roof. Rooms I−VI produced few finds of Hel coins and pottery, along with loomweights with graffiti from rooms I and III (the former room containing a hearth and the latter the setting for a pithos). The majority of finds come from a courtyard S of rooms II−IV: these include a millstone and grinding stone, plus a wide range of storage vessels, cooking vessels and tablewares (notably Megarian bowls) which may have been discarded here, along with a few items of jewellery, glass beads and coins. A few ERom sherds, including a lead-glazed relief skyphos, also come from these rooms. A few 3rd Ct BC bg sherds may come from an isolated pit grave sunk into the natural soil in room VI (a room later used for storage). The latest use of the farmstead is established by a coin of Antoninus in room IX and LRom sherds in room VIII. Farmstead 3, 2.7km SW of anc. Edessa, consists of 2 long, narrow buildings (14.7m x 3.7m and 10.9m x 2.3m) in a poor state of preservation. A Rom date is indicated by the surviving pottery.

Excavation continued in 2007 just N of the farmsteads noted above, where a further ECh farmstead was investigated by the 11th EBA. Eight single burials were found in rock-cut cist tombs with cover slabs, dating from the ECl−EHel. Female burials contained vases and jewellery, whereas males had weapons (2 spearheads are illustrated), agricultural tools and vases linked to the symposium. The tombs lie close to the anc. road from Edessa to Imathia, which passed through the valley of Platani-Flamouria.