Heraclea Sintica

papers of the american research center in sofia, vol. 2 lyudmil VAGALINSKI, recent archaeological data from heraclea sintica RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA about HERACLEA SINTICA by Lyudmil VAGALINSKI, National Institute of Archaeology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Romania Serbia Turkey Introduction Our efforts so far have been focused Macedonia Since 2007, I have been conducting the on excavating and preserving the antique archaeological survey of Heraclea Sintica, an architecture as to be modified for tourism for Greece ancient city in "Rupite" locality, near the village the benefit of Petrich Municipality. At the same of Rupite, Petrich Municipality (Fig. 1). The time, we laid particular stress on defining the excavations, implemented together with my chronology of the unearthed remains of the team1, were carried out in 2007 and from 2011 antique buildings, which will be presented to 2013 for a total of eight and a half months herein. of fieldwork (Вагалински, Чолаков 2008; We still know very little about the Figure 1. Location of Heraclea Sintica Вагалински и др. 2012; Вагалински 2013; topography of the ancient city, namely the Вагалински 2014). Bulgarian, Russian and following: German specialists conducted geophysical • The low and flat terrain east of Mount by local treasure hunters in "Aydaritsa", "Metlata" cultural layer is about 3.50 m thick. Initially, a investigations of the site in 2008 and 2011 (Fig. Kozhuh ("Traykovitsa" locality) was not settled, and "Chervenite skali" localities and on the dwelling of Roman date was built with crushed 2; Вагалински, Чолаков 2009; Вагалински, probably because it was periodically flooded by southwestern slope of Dzhonkov hill throw some stone and clay binder, its walls following the Иванов 2012). All these field surveys were made the Struma River (Fig. 2/plot I); light on the southern and western boundaries of contour of the hewn bedrock (Figs. 7, 8). There possible by the joint efforts of the Ministry of • The area of the ancient city covered the the built-up area of Heraclea Sintica. are traces of slight burning in it. The exact Culture, the National Institute of Archaeology southernmost Dzhonkov hill of Mount Kozhuh date of the dwelling is not clear. The rock with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of and developed primarily to its south toward Description and chronology5 was additionally cut during the curtain wall Sciences (NIAM-BAS), the Museum of History the Strumeshnitsa River; the eastern periphery of the excavated antique buildings construction to provide movement along its at Petrich and the Petrich Municipality. Field of the same hill, where an ancient theater may So far the excavations have been conducted at inner western face (intervallum). The wall itself training of American students was conducted have existed3, was also inhabited (Figs. 4, 5); three areas consecutively numbered as sites 1-3. lies on the solid bedrock, and in some places is together with the American Research Center in • The burials at the ancient city They are located on the southeastern periphery embedded in the earlier cultural layer (Figs. 8, Sofia in 2012, 2013 and 20142 (Fig. 3). necropolis researched by our colleague Julia of Dzhonkov hill. 9). It is built up with crushed stone and white Bozhinova (Regional Museum of History – mortar mixed with a lot of sand as a binder. The Blagoevgrad)4 and hundreds of graves destroyed Site 1 or Roman curtain wall (Fig. 6) faced stones of the wall are larger than those 1 The team includes Dr. Ivo D. Cholakov, Chief Field study at the site was made in 2007. The in the core and have roughly shaped sides. Assistant, Dr. Sirma Alexandrova, Chief Assistant Levelled rows consisting of pieces of building (both affiliated with NIAM-BAS) and Sotir Ivanov (Museum of History – Petrich), to whom Dr. Petya with the American Research Center in Sofia. ceramics and flat stones are also present. The 5 The absolute chronology is based on stratified wall is about 2.10 m thick. The substructure is Andreeva (NIAM-BAS) and Lyuba Traykova, PhD 3 This hypothesis belongs to Dr. Emil Nankov. small finds, among which 397 coins provide the most student (NIAM-BAS) joined since 2012. 4 See the paper of Julia Bozhinova in the present accurate data. For the latter, see the paper of Sotir 0.50 m deep at the most and the superstructure 2 Program coordinator is Dr. Emil Nankov affiliated Conference Proceedings. Ivanov in the present Conference Proceedings. is preserved to a height of 1.80 m. The exposed 86 87 papers of the american research center in sofia, vol. 2 lyudmil VAGALINSKI, recent archaeological data from heraclea sintica wall section is 13.50 m in length and 330° Site 2 or Roman craftsmen's azimuth. Based on our field observations, we residential quarter (Fig. 6) suggest that the curtain wall encircled the The site was explored in 2007, 2012 and 2013 field hill from the south. A square opening for seasons6. It is located at the southern end of the drainage, built of brick and white mortar and Mount Kozhuh, 250 m southwest of site 1. The narrowing outward, passes through the wall cultural layer is about 3.50 m thick except for the section (Fig. 10). It is covered with stone slabs, southern periphery where it reaches a depth of including spolia. Square holes that held wooden 4.50 m (Figs. 13-15). The sea level of sites 1 and beams for scaffolding are preserved along the 2 in Baltic height system is about 90 m. In 1958 inner western wall face (Fig. 11). According Prof. A. Milchev (Милчев 1960) conducted to stratified artefacts, the defensive wall was excavations at the site for for a month. He constructed after the st1 century AD and before AD 257 (Fig. 12). The site shows evidence of an enemy attack that occurred after AD 253 (Fig. 6 As for results of season 2014 I confine to information that a well preserved Late Roman 12/4). We could not determine how long the civilian basilica with an apse (see Fig. 16), as well as Figure 2. Sectors of the area of Heraclea Sintica investigated by geophysical survey in 2011 curtain wall was in use. Hellenistic layers and structures have been revealed. 88 89 papers of the american research center in sofia, vol. 2 lyudmil VAGALINSKI, recent archaeological data from heraclea sintica Figure 3. American students and Bulgarian archaeologists participating in the field survey at Heraclea Sintica, June 2013 Figure 4 Aerial photo of the "Rupite" locality and the vicinity: Mount Kozhuh is situated in the middle; the Struma River runs from north to south and the Strumeshnitsa River flows west into it; Rupite village (formerly Muletarovo Figure 5. Southeastern slope of the Mount Kozhuh; the Struma River and the confluence point with the Strumeshnitsa or Shirbanovo), Petrich Municipality, Blagoevgrad District, lies southwest of the Mount Kozhuh and north of the River can be seen Strumeshnitsa river; southwestern corner of Bulgaria 90 91 papers of the american research center in sofia, vol. 2 lyudmil VAGALINSKI, recent archaeological data from heraclea sintica Figure 7. Ruins of Roman dwelling, on which the Roman fortress wall of Heraclea Sintica is built; site 1 concluded that a weaving workshop and a dye- Second settlement period works were unearthed, and he generally dated Production of fabrics is present, as evidenced them within the 4th century BC – 6th century by hundreds of clay and stone loom weights7. AD period. We expanded the excavated area in Pottery, clay lamps and painted and glazed the four main directions from the area of his terracottas are also manufactured. A excavations and at the same time accomplished rectangular rock-cut tray connected to a clay the field study of his trench to sterile layer (Fig. pipe8 was used for purifying clay treatment 16). The chronology of this residential and production complex is as follows: 7 The analysis of the small finds are made by Ivo D. Cholakov and the pottery is studied by Sirma First settlement period Alexandrova. Both of them present the results in the Plinth courses are cut out of the rock and built present volume. up with crushed stone and clay binder (Figs. 8 Only two preserved clay pipes entering the pool 13-15, 17). The soft bedrock is roughly levelled. were found. Clay pipe coming from Belasitsa Unshaped pits of various sizes and depths are Mountain to Rupite has been encountered by local cut into it (Fig. 18). Their purpose remains people during agricultural works. There is a spring unclear. There is no reliable data on the type of caught at the northern end of the Mount Kozhuh at 150 meters above sea level, i.e. about 60 m higher production. The site is burned after AD 14 (Figs. than site 2, which enables water to be conducted by Figure 6. Southeastern margin of the Mount Kozhuh and its Dzhonkov hill; the archaeological sites 1 and 2 are marked 13/4, 14/4). gravitation. 92 93 papers of the american research center in sofia, vol. 2 lyudmil VAGALINSKI, recent archaeological data from heraclea sintica Figure 9. Inner wall face of the Roman curtain wall at site 1 Figure 10. Opening in the Roman curtain wall for drainage / leakage of water running down the steep eastern slope of Figure 8. Plan of the excavated sector of the Roman fortress wall at site 1 the Mount Kozhuh; site 1 94 95 papers of the american research center in sofia, vol. 2 lyudmil VAGALINSKI, recent archaeological data from heraclea sintica rather than colouring fabrics (Fig. 19). Walls of (Fig. 31), the marble main entrance of which crushed stone, spolia and adobe were erected was closed by a two-winged door (Figs.

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