CHALANDRIANI Kastri - 2007

Chalandriani (Kastri). M. Marthari (ASA/Director, ΚΑ' ΕΠΚΑ) reports on a 2nd season of excavation on the Kastri acropolis, focused on the area inside and at the foot of the semicircular wall at the summit. Many slabs from the wall were found, indicating by their location the gradual collapse of the wall rather than a catastrophic destruction. Fill reached a d. of 0.7m, but mainly derives from decomposed vegetation; in places, the bedrock is only 0.1m below the surface. The h. of the wall in the ECyc was no greater than 2m, but was then raised in a different, less careful, masonry style. Pottery is L ECyc II, Kastri style, the same as that found in excavation of the lower fortification (both the proteichisma and the main walls with their towers), as well as in the settlement buildings within the walls. Several shapes can be recognized from the fragmentary sherds; black-coated storage pithoi with plastic decoration, amphorae with incised handles, conical cups with mat and leaf marks on the base, bowls and pyxides with stamped and incised decoration. In the same level (that of the abandonment of the wall) were obsidian blades and the debris of obsidian working in situ, stone grinders and pestles, and food remains including ovicaprine bones and shells.
Excavation confirmed that the fortification system of the settlement on the Kastri acropolis consisted of 3 curved walls or periboloi of the same date: the earliest and lowest is the so-called proteichisma, then close by is the wall with 6 (to date) apsidal towers, and the 3rd wall, smaller in extent, on the summit of the hill. The wall on the summit therefore formed part of the overall scheme of fortification from the beginning, and was the last line of defence in the case of attack from outside. The semicircular shape is due to the fact that the S side of the summit is precipitous and unapproachable. The space inside the wall was roofed and in use until the abandonment of the entire settlement. The large pithoi found here, at least 0.8m h., were used over long periods to store cereals. The amphorae with incised handles were also used for the storage and transport of liquid foodstuffs. The ovicaprine bones and shells confirm that the area was the dwelling of persons of particular status.