ATHENS-PLAKA - 2011

Plaka, Vyronos 2, Eugenia Iskou (Α’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on continued excavations in the plot, under the supervision of D. Gianniou. The antiquities revealed date from the prehistoric to the Late Byzantine periods (Fig. 1). Walls, a lime-pit, 5 tile-built pithoi and a potter’s kiln were dated to Late Byzantine times. Another 11 tile-built pithoi and numerous other pithoi were revealed and dated to Byzantine times (Fig. 2). During the Late Christian and Roman periods this area housed workshops as attested by large deposits of ash, 2 hearths, a pit filled with ashes and another pit filled with iron slags. In addition, a large building complex was excavated and dated to the same period. It preserves walls, mosaic floors, niches with murals and a megalithic threshold (Figs. 3, 4, 5). Another stretch of the ancient Street of the Tripods was revealed together with its retaining walls of conglomerate blocks. 25 consecutive road surfaces were identified dating from the 5^th c. B.C. until the 7^th c. A.D. (Figs. 6, 7). In the Hellenistic and Roman periods the road was 6.50-8 metres wide. Numerous drains, terracotta pipes and a well had been built on top of it (Fig. 8). An Athenian lead stater was found in the foundation trench of one of the road’s retaining walls and a Late Classical rock-cut child burial was excavated next to this wall (Fig. 9). Finally, a Geometric well and few Early and Middle Helladic sherds were found.