171-190

Neolithic sites in the interior of Strymonic gulf : a neolithic settlement at Asprovalta

• Αδάμ - Βελένη, Πολυξένη
• Βιολατζής, Μιχαήλ
• Καρατάσιος, Παναγιώτης
• Στάγκος, Αντρέας

By the “interior of the Strymonic Gulf’ we mean the area which includes: i) the narrow coastal strip between the mouth of the river Strymon and the town of Stavros, which consists largely of alluvial deposits between Mount Kerdylios and the coast; ii) the Rendina pass; and iii) the plateau between Palaia Vrasna and Vamvakia.Thirteen prehistoric sites have been located so far, occupied from the Late Neolithic to the Early Iron Age. The chronological distribution of the sites currently presents the following picture: 4 Late Neolithic; 2 certain and a 3rd probable Early Bronze Age; 13 Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age. The available data allow us to make the following observations. All the Neolithic sites are settlements on rocky elevations with very steep sides and, usually, an almost flat top that constitute extensions of Mount Kerdylios. Observations at the sites of Piatoma near Asprovalta and Lydia indicate that the Neolithic deposits are no more than 1 m thick. Given that they date to Sitagri II-III, phases which in the E. Macedonian sites (Dimitra, Sitagri, Dikili Tas) are represented by deposits several metres thick and covering a time-span of at least 1,000 years, we must seriously consider the possibility that these sites were not occupied simultaneously.Very few Early Bronze Age sites have been located so far, most of them in naturally fortified locations. The site at Kakia-Skala seems to be an important one, on a rocky elevation commanding the pass to the sea. One of these, however (Liotopi near Routskheli), is a flat site on a smooth slope, quite different, in other words, from the Neolithic sites, and it is therefore to be expected that more, similar sites will be located in the future. All the difficult-to-reach Neolithic sites were re-occupied in the Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age, and many new ones were established on similar heights.Apart from the limited excavation at Lydia, most of the investigations in the area were carried out at Piatoma, on account of the new Egnatia highway. It is a rocky elevation of gneiss with seams of marble, with an area of 1.5 ha. It forms a wide plateau at the top, the sides are very steep, and it is accessible only from the S. Excavations were conducted in a 4,512 m2 strip across the site, which has been damaged in the past by minor roads cutting across it and by attempts at building.On the flat area at the top of the elevation 23 pits were found hewn out of the bedrock, all of the Late Neolithic period. A group of 3 pits separated by thin stone walls and demarcated by stone paving 120 m S. of the site confirms that human eki- stic activities were also carried out beyond the natural boundaries of the settlements. The presence of vertical stratigraphy with at least 3 Neolithic levels was observed only on the E. slope of the site, where there is a steep W-E gradient.Of the considerable quantity of pottery (60,000+ sherds), most belongs to the Neolithic period, specifically to Sitagri II and III. There was a small quantity of Grey Ware with a coating of graphite, in some cases with grooved decoration, of the Sitagri II phase. There was a small quantity of Black Burnished Ware; a much greater quantity of Grey-Black Burnished Ware; and closed and open biconical phiales and closed spherical phiales were common.There was a considerable quantity of Pale Burnished Ware; and a small quantity of Late Neolithic wares with barbotine decoration. Most of the decorated pottery belonged in the category of Sitagri III Engraved Ware (300+ sherds). There were considerable quantities of Speckled and Impressed Ware (330+ sherds). There was a considerable amount of decoration with fingerprints on plastic bands; and numerous fragments of cooking stands and plastic vases were also found. Black-on-Red Ware occupied a special place. An intact amphora-like vessel with handles directly from the neck was found at the bottom of a pit.The large number of tools -both ground tools and flake tools- attests to intensive industrial activity on the site during the periods when it was occupied. The ground tools are mainly axes and a few chisels of greenish stone. There is a much greater number of flake tools, such as blades, flakes, scrapers, and cores.Of the rest of the finds, a very interesting group of 55 figurines deserves mention, 50 being anthropomorphic and only 5 representing animals.An extremely important group of finds consists of 16 clay stamps, a much larger number than from the sites published hitherto. They present a variety of shapes and decorative motifs. Plain, vertical or horizontal engraved lines, cruciform or reticulated motifs, spirals, and shallow circular depressions are just some of the designs on their lower surfaces.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία

Νεολιθική εποχή, Θεσσαλονίκη, συνέδρια

Περιέχει εικόνες και σχέδια, Περιέχει παράρτημα με τίτλο: Προκαταρκτική μελέτη των αρχαιοβοτανικών καταλοίπων από τη νεολιθική θέση στην Ασπροβάλτα υπό την Γεωργία Κοτζαμάνη, Περιέχει παράρτημα με τίτλο: Μελέτη παλαιοζωολογικών ευρημάτων από τη νεολιθική θέση στην Ασπροβάλτα υπό την Ελένη Σαμαρτζίδου