Αρχαιολογικές έρευνες στη θέση Μαυρόλακκας της Ολυμπιάδας κατά τα έτη 1999 και 2000
Part of : Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στη Μακεδονία και στη Θράκη ; Vol.14, No.1, 2000, pages 347-358
Issue:
Pages:
347-358
Parallel Title:
Archaeological investigations at Mavrolakkas near Olympias in 1999 and 2000
Author:
Abstract:
After the Ministry of Culture granted the application made by TVX Hellas to build a gold factory at Mavrolakkas near Olympias (about 2.5 km SW of ancient Stageira), extensive archaeological investigations were carried out in the area. They were carried out in two stages (in 1999 and 2000 respectively) and involved the following three sectors of activity, i) Surface investigations. It was found that the area of specific interest to TVX Hellas (the proposed site of the factory), as also an extensive area around it, was strewn with architectural remains, most of them dating to the Hellenistic period, ii) Geophysical investigations. These were carried out by the University of Thessaloniki and their findings have not yet been verified by excavations. They located a number of antiquities, mainly in the area directly to the N and N W of the area of specific interest to TVX Hellas, iii) Systematic excavations. These were carried out in 3 different areas (Sectors A, B, Γ), and the findings were as follows.Sector A is directly to the E of the existing marsh lake. Surface investigations here located a distinctive straight elevation of the terrain over a distance of 110 m. The excavation which followed ascertained that this was a stone-built structure 2.50 m wide, resembling a fortifying wall. Owing to lack of data, and because of various technical aspects of the construction of the work, the question of its dating and its identification remains open.Sector B is about 500 m S of Sector A. Here too we uncovered a 50 m stretch of a straight stone structure identical to that in Sector A, and the same problems of dating and identification apply. Also problematic with regard to dating is an almost rectangular paved structure measuring 5x 10 m, which was explored directly to the E. As far as its function is concerned, we surmise that it was a place where large animals were slaughtered, and this is supported by all its structural features. Some 60 m further W the comer of a stone structure was uncovered, while at the N end of the same area, the excavations have started to uncover a notable building (probably a large house) of the Early Hellenistic period.Sector Γ is approximately in the centre of the area of specific interest to TVX Hellas. The surface of an elongated rise here yielded the visible remains of a number of ancient buildings, as also of a rectangular building of the Ottoman period. Most of our excavations concentrated on this sector, owing to the large numbers and the importance of the finds.The stratigraphical evidence relating to the pottery, the other movable finds, and the 43 coins indicates that the buildings investigated here date to between the mid-4th and the 1st century BC, and represent 3 construction phases. Despite considerable damage in the past, a number of buildings, some of them quite large, are satisfactorily preserved. They are mainly workshops and storage spaces, though there are residential spaces too.Apart from this, we also uncovered 5 pottery kilns here, which were used for firing mainly unpainted pointed amphoras, smaller vessels, and large Laconian roof-tiles. More specifically, they are 2 large rectangular and 3 smaller piriform kilns, all dating to the end of the 4th century BC.In view of all this, it is clear that the entire site on which TVX Hellas intends to build its factory is in the middle of an area that is strewn with antiquities, mostly of the Hellenistic period. The findings to date point to certain scientific propositions, given i) the distance from ancient Stageira, which is no more than 2.5 km, and ii) the historical context in the ancient period and the evidence of the ancient writers, according to whom, after destroying Stageira in 349 BC, Philip II rebuilt the city a few years later at Aristotle’s request.So in the light of the new finds, it may well be that Stageira was rebuilt not on the arid highland site of the older city, but in the lowland area of Mavrolakka, where not only was there an abundance of water, but fields, minerals, and timber were much closer at hand. Furthermore, when the city was incorporated into the kingdom of Macedon and domestic peace prevailed, there was no longer any reason to live in inaccessible places. This hypothesis (which is not without problems, which only further excavations can resolve) is also supported by the fact that all the dated architectural and movable finds produced by the excavations date to after Philip’s time.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
Θάσος
Notes:
Περιέχει εικόνες και κάτοψη
