MAZI PLAIN - 2016

Mazi plain (Eleusis-Oinoe). S. Fachard (Geneva/Swiss National Science Foundation), A.R. Knodell (Carleton College/ESAG), and Kalliopi Papangeli (Greek Ministy of Culture) report on the third season of the Mazi Archaeological Project (MAP). The results of their survey were entered in GIS and a map was produced (Fig. 1).

The Eleutherai fortress (Fig. 2): Three phases of construction were identified. The first fortress was built in the second half of the 5^th c. BC at the top of the hill. A second monumental one was constructed in the 4^th c. BC. This one had 13 towers and could have been constructed by the Thebans/Boeotians. The fortress remained under Boeotian control until the second half of the 3^rd c. BC as attested in an inscription found on one of the gates (Fig. 3). The last phase is dated in Late Roman times, when repairs were made to the south section of the fortification wall.

The Eleutherai dam: the polygonal wall of the dam was found in 2015 and cleaned in 2016. It is made of carefully-worked, limestone blocks. It protected the nearby habitation area from violent floods.

Geophysical prospection at Oinoe: Two sections of the lower town were investigated and mapped. Several structures and two ancient roads were identified. In addition, two sections of fortification walls were found and will be further investigated in 2017. The first may belong to the Classical fortification wall and the second to the Roman (Fig. 4).