Surface luminescence dating of ‘dragon houses’ and Armena gate at Styra (Euboea, Greece)

Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.10, No.3, 2010, pages 65-81

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65-81
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Abstract:
The Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) surface dating employing the singlealiquot regenerative (SAR) technique on quartz was applied to some small enigmatic buildings made of large marble schist slabs in a skillful corbelling technique, and a fortifiedmegalithic gate, at Styra, Kapsala, Laka Palli and Kastro Armena in southern Euboea. The function and origins of the structures have created a puzzle that has fed the imagination and lead to various interpretations by many scholars. No archaeologicalexcavations or methods of dating have been available for the megalithic‐like structures. The dates reported suggest the earliest construction to have taken place during the Classical period. Re‐use of these structures has occurred during Hellenistic and Roman times (the latter associated with the large scale quarrying of marbles), as well as, in Medieval times (found in agreement with the historical literature) and the contemporary period (as reported by shepherds). In all cases the datable slabs were rather reset as repairs.
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Keywords:
OSL, Luminescence, Dragon Houses, Styra, Armena, Dating, Kapsala, Laka Palli, Euboea
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