427-435

Two excavations in Pieria : chronicle and prospects

• Μαρκή, Ευτέρπη

On the site of ancient Pydna, 1 km S. of Makriyalos, the excavations carried out by the 9th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, which began in 1983 and were halted in 1992 owing to lack of funds, uncovered the Middle Byzantine residence of the Bishop of Kitros; the tower of the Frankish ruler of Kitros, Virich von Damn, incorporated into the bema; part of the N. and W. outer wall of the castle with the W. gate; and, S. of the castle, part of the Byzantine settlement, with houses, a pottery kiln from a workshop with a crucible for casting metal, an inn, a bath-house, and a small cemetery church of the 13th century. These excavations were carried out in a densely developed archaeological site filled with unauthorised buildings, part of which site, in the vicinity of the Middle Byzantine bishop’s residence, has been expropriated at the suggestion of the 9th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities with the aim of rehabilitating the antiquities.Eight kilometres further S., at Louloudies, between Alykes and Korinos, a proposal to lay a new railway line between Katcrini and Thessaloniki led to the discovery of an episcopal complex of the 5th-6th centuries, with 4 towers, a basilica, a bishop’s palace, and light industrial units for producing wine and oil. The intensive excavation was carried out in the agricultural area of Kitros between 1993 and 1997. In 1999, because it was impossible to change the route of the railway line, the official decision was issued to fill in the NW part of the complex, and trains began running in 2000.These 2 important, indeed epoch-making, archaeological sites in Pieria came to light through the excavations of recent years and have yielded some splendid scientific findings. Although they are so close together, their future mise en valeur will require quite different approaches, because they each have distinctive features of their own.The mise en valeur of the ruined residence of the Bishop of Kitros and its surrounding area — which has been supplied with water and electricity and planted with trees at the Ephorate’s instigation— requires the co-operation of the local authorities, chiefly to re-route the Makriyalos- Alykes road (which currently cuts right through the archaeological site), and also to provide lighting for the site. It also requires the construction of a car park, an information kiosk, public lavatories, and a site warden at least for the months of April to October.The mise en valeur of the archaeological site at Louloudies —which we hope to turn into a park worthy of its name (Louloudies meaning ‘flowers’) and have to that end planted the boundaries of the enclosure with 17 variétés of rose-bushes— also requires the co-operation of the local authorities to improve the road leading to it and build a car park. The site also needs lighting, the shelters over the mosaics need reconstructing, and the site requires a warden’s office, public lavatories, and an on-site display of labelled finds and photographs of the excavations.If these 2 sites are to be brought back to life, the local authorities’ help is essential. With concerted efforts, the roads can be improved —even re-routed— car parks can be built, the gardens can be turned into green flowering areas, displays can be mounted; and when their image has been enhanced, people will start to be interested in walking around the ruins and finding out about the history of the ruins, which is also their own history. Indeed, if the prefcctural and educational authorities in Pieria include visits to all the local archaeological sites and monuments in the local schools’ activities programmes, then we may be quite certain that the sites really will come to life.

• History and Archaeology

• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)

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