ADRIANOS Kastro - 2008

Adrianos, Kastro. S. Gimatzidis (ΚΖ' ΕΠΚΑ) and R. Jung (DAI) report on a trial excavation on this extensive (ca. 1.4ha) multi-period hill settlement by the river Mavroneri (anc. Aison), close to Katerini. Three cemeteries probably related to this settlement are noted: one at Adrianos (Cl−Hel), another ca. 2−3km to the W (of the same period) and the third very close by, which is probably EIA in date. Excavation in the settlement revealed EBA activity in the lowest levels (on the basis of pottery, some datable to EHII, rather than architecture), followed by LBA (with handmade pottery of fine quality, burnished and matt-painted, although no evidence of production in the Myc tradition). Architectural remains appear in the EIA: in the lower part of the settlement, an artificial terrace (more than 0.5m d.) may have been intended to support large pithoi. Above this was a wall (of mud-brick on a stone foundation), inside which were found more than 10 loomweights. While the pottery found in these levels does not permit close dating, both the terrace and the wall can be generally characterized as LPGeo−SubPGeo. Scattered sherds indicate that activity continued in the later phases of the EIA, and the surface level (which lies directly over the LPGeo features) includes pottery and coins of the LAr−Hel period, when it seems that settlement was on a large scale. A very few Byz sherds and coins were also found.
Finally, the authors note the chance discovery in 2005, during the opening of a water channel, of a closed EIA tomb assemblage at Moschochori, 5km W of the Kastro by the river Mavroneri. The burial was reported to be an extended inhumation, and to contain, in addition to a handmade kantharos, gold spirals and a large quantity of bronze jewellery (fibulae, beads, pendants and 3 bracelets). The assemblage has been handed over to the local authorities.