67-76

The excavation of the byzantine church of Ayios Dimitrios at Matsouki, prefecture of Aetoloakarnania

Αρχαιολογικά χρονικά

• Κωνστάντιος, Δημήτρης Ν.
• Καρδάση, Α. Ι.

During the course of work on the construction of the new Public Power Corporation dam on the Acheloos river, the remains of a small Byzantine church were located to the north of the village of Matsouki, Agrinion, a mere 5 m. from the west bank of the river.The excavation carried out in 1986 brought to light the remains of the church of Ayios Dimitrios. It is a small, aisleless basilica (dim. 3x5.80 m.) with a semicircular apse at the east end and a built stone iconostasis.The church has a variety of masonry. Spolia taken from ancient buildings can be seen at the corners and in the lower parts of the walls, while the higher parts have rubble masonry with grey stones and an abundance of mortar. Bricks were used only in the joints of the apse and at the south-west corner. The only decorative brickwork feature is the dentil course that encircles the arch of the opening designed to admit light into the apse.The church was destroyed by earthquake on two occasions. It originally had a timber roof and was later covered by a barrel vault. The porch was added to the narthex during the period of Turkish domination.The first phase of the monument dates from the Middle Byzantine period (llth-12th c.). It was a cemetery church, as is clear from the large number of burials investigated in the area. This tradition was kept alive until the middle of the 20th century.The dead were buried according to Christian practice, with no grave offerings. The only finds were a silver finger-ring (burial T6) and a bronze brooch (burial Tl). Very few portable finds came to light, and these were of no particular interest: a few 19th century coins and a few sherds from pots of everyday use, as well as some sherds with glaze and grooves.

• History and Archaeology

• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)
• Χριστιανικές αρχαιότητες

βυζαντινές αρχαιότητες, Αιτωλοακαρνανία

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