95-104

New roads on top of old (leading) from Edessa to Vegoritida

• Χρυσοστόμου, Αναστασία

The geophysical significance and configuration of the passage from Edessa to Vegoritida lead to uninterrupted human activities; as a result human constructions can be detected all the way along that route. Via Egnatia should clearly be considered as among the most important ones, and although it has not yet been possible to confidently identify its residues, there is no doubt for its passage through this area. The passage, with Lake Vegoritida as its western boundary, journeys through small valleys (Fig. 1), north of Mount Vermio and south o f Mount Vora and eventually ends on the edge o f the cliff o f Edessa. Road segments and retaining walls have been identified (Fig. 2), but their dating is uncertain. To the south of modem Arnissa (Fig. 1), the plain that lies next to the lake has been continuously used as residence, but with fluctuating western boundaries due to the alternating rise and descent o f the water. The uninterrupted character of the habitation in that area is confirme by findings from the Iron Age cemetery (Fig. 2), by Roman inscriptions, and by remains of a fortified settlement, believed to be the Byzantine Ostrovos. Finally, of particular interest is the testimony of modern inhabitants that a paved road used to run/runs (?) among their fields and parallel to the modern road that connects Arnissa with the Edessa-Fiorina Highway. The prehistoric settlement (Fig. 4 A) in the adjacent valley of Drosia (Fig. 1) dates from the Early Neolithic to the Bronze Age. The habitation was then transferred to the hill fort of Gratista (Fig. 4 B), which appears to be the most prominent part of the Edessa to Vegoritida passage, potentially a little hamlet. In 2009, trial diggings north of the highway proved again the existence of habitation, whereas to south of the highway they revealed enclosures (Fig. 5), possibly for the keeping of animals. Remains of a Roman building located at the north western boundary of the flat part of the passage (Fig. 4 C) is probably related to the Via Egnatia station ad Duodecim, i.e. within 12 Roman miles from lidessa,known from ancient itineraria. N. Hammond and M. Hatzopoulos had related street remains in the valley of Drosia to Via Egnatia. Unfortunately in 1998, excavation trenches in these remains (Fig. 4 D) north o f the national highway did not reveal any strong evidence to either support or reject that claim. Excavations to the south o f the highway during 2009 were also inconclusive (Fig. 6). During 2009 and on the occasion of improvement works on the existing national highway, trial excavations took place in the remaining valley of the passage, to the west of the modern village of Agra (Fig. 1), an area where previous excavations had already revealed a prehistoric mound and an Iron Age cemetery (Fig. 7). Sections vertical to the highway (Fig. 8) led to the discovery of Neolithic remains (Fig. 9 A) and of remains of Iron Age settlement. Among the latter ones, the most important was a large pit cave (Fig. 10), within which parts from about 50 vases and small objects were found (Fig. 9 B). In addition, jars in place along with amphorae and sherds of table ware, a cist tomb and a nursery enchytrismos in the amphora shown in Figure 11 were found in a rural settlement of the classic/late classic era. Finally, the last Finding o f the 2009 excavation work in the valley o f Agra came from the area immediately north of the national highway: parts of an ancient road of around 90 meters in length were identified by successive sections. Its full width, which exceeded 6 meters, was apparent in only a single section (Fig. 12). The southern curb of the road consisting o f narrow, vertically places stones was found in that one, as well as in other sections. The northern curb was identified in a different section, albeit moved. The pavement of the road consisted of flat stones. Accurate dating of the road will require completion of its clearance, collection of furtherdata from the excavations and also, broader study of its technical characteristics. One conclusion though can be safely reached: that the passage from Εdessa to Vegoritida and its microregions, or rather the roads that crossed it, have their own long history, that archaeologists will continue to investigate, hoping that luck will in its turn contribute to the final resolution of certain remaining issues.

• History and Archaeology

• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)

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