Iklaina - 2015

Iklaina. M. Cosmopoulos (ASA) reports on excavation in four areas at the Traganes location (Fig. 1).

In the area of the workshops three more rooms were uncovered, of which one (at a lower level) contained a staircase with few steps on one side with which it communicated with another space. In the same room a clay tub (asaminthos, in Homeric terminology) was found, with an industrial use according to the excavator (Fig. 2). In another room a circular hearth was found and, around it, 5 flat stones, upon which stood wooden pillars supporting the roof around the opening through which smoke escaped from the hearth (Fig. 3).

In the northwest corner of the previously excavated terrace a level with remains of the destruction of a structure which had occupied this location was uncovered. Finds included: rectangular stones of the walls, a piece of burnt mudbrick, fragments of plaster and bronze nails from the wooden beams of the building. Some of the nails were preserved in burnt wood. The destruction was dated to the LH IIIA2-IIIB period by the ceramics. The terrace was completely uncovered after removal of debris which had accumulated on its northwest corner in the 1970s and its façade was now visible in that location. In this part of the façade the burial of a mature female was found. The skeleton was in contracted position and on top of it were found the bones of a small dog, a kid and a bird.

The paved road south of building X was excavated to a substantial length and its careful construction is perhaps indicative that it had an official character and use.