397-407

The double trapeza at Anchialos

• Τιβέριος, Μιχάλης Α.

The excavation by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki at the ancient settlement located on the double trapeza (Fig. 2) near modern Sindos (Fig. 1) began in 1990. A number of areas on both the upper and lower trapeza were investigated, and Stefanos Gimatzidis’s publication of excavation results to date is currently in its final stages. In one of the trenches opened on the upper trapeza (2 m. x 4 m„ with a depth of 16 m.), the levels were for the most part undisturbed. The first human presence here dates to the Late Bronze Age (though discarded sherds of the Late Neolithic were found). We note among the immovable finds from this trench building remains from various periods, the remains from a bronzeworking foundry of the 9th century B.C., and oval hearths with clay spit-supports dating to ca. 800 B.C. At other points on the upper trapeza there were found cellars dating to the archaic period and a monumental embankment probably dating to the 7th century B.C., built chiefly from layers of yellow clay.On the lower trapeza there came to light “refuse pits,” mainly filled with pottery, as well as areas with workshops and cooking installations. These areas, bordered by brick walls, date to the Geometric period (Fig. 3). All of the trenches yielded significant quantities of “local” and imported pottery. From the former we may single out a category that we have conventionally named “silvered” (Fig. 6), as well as a group of trade amphorae featuring concentric circles in their main decorative zone (Fig. 7). For both these groups, of which the former dates to the 8th-7th centuries B.C. and the latter to the 8th century B.C., there is evidence that the ancient settlement we are investigating was one of their main production centers. From among the large quantity of imported pottery, we note the pronounced presence of Geometric wares from southern Greece, particularly Euboea (Fig. 4).At the end of the 4th century B.C., we observe an obvious decline in the settlement, which must be owed to Cassander s founding of nearby Thessaloniki. It is very likely that this settlement, perhaps ancient Sindos, was one of the 26 towns that were obliged to participate in the synoecism of Thessaloniki. During the Geometric, Archaic, and Classical periods, one of the settlement’s chief sources of wealth must have been the gold from the neighboring Gallikos river (Echedoros, for the ancients). During the 8th century B.C., the Euboeans must have founded a trading station (emporion) here, probably in the desire to exploit the rivers gold.

• History and Archaeology

• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)

Θεσσαλονίκη

Περιέχει εικόνες και χάρτες