BYZANTINE PORTS Central Greece as a link between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea Vol. I.: Text and Bibliography ALKIVIADIS GINALIS Merton College and Institute of Archaeology University of Oxford Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Archaeology Hilary Term 2014 This thesis was examined by Prof. Michael Vickers (Jesus College, Oxford) and Dr. Archie W. Dunn (Birmingham) on July 24, 2014 and was recommended for the award of Doctor of Philosophy in Archaeology, which was officially granted to the author on October 21, 2014. Correspondence details of the author Dr. Alkiviadis Ginalis Feldgasse 3/11 1080, Vienna AUSTRIA Tel: 0043/6766881126 e-mail: [email protected] ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis owes a lot to the endless support and love of my family, who above all constantly kept encouraging me. I am particularly greatly indebted to my parents, Michalis and Monika, not only for making it financially possible but also for believing in me, and the way I chose to go. This gave me the incredible chance and strength to take the opportunity of getting the highest academic degree from one of the world’s best Universities. The 3 years I spent at Oxford, both inspired and enriched my academic knowledge, and became an unforgettable and unique personal experience of which I will profit my entire life. Furthermore, they gave me the necessary encouragement, as well as, made me think from different points of view. For support and thoughtful, as well as, dynamic and energetic guidance throughout my thesis my deepest debt is to my supervisors, Dr. Marlia Mango (St. John’s College) and Dr. Damian Robinson (Brasenose College). I always felt very lucky to have both supervisors, which form an ideal combination for beneficial suggestions, advice and help in all matters. I feel highly honoured that it is particularly due to the assessment and evaluation of my research by Dr. Marlia Mango, as well as her personal interest and commitment that I got accepted by Oxford University. Therefore, in first instance it is to Dr. Marlia Mango’s credit that I started working on the terra incognita of Byzantine ports. Beyond supervision, I would like to thank Dr. Damian Robinson for supporting my survey project. Without his dedication and the diving equipment provided by himself and the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology (OCMA), the documentation of my site could not have been of such high level and the photographic material of such high quality. My special thanks go to Dr. David Blackman. He is not only a highly revered scholar, but moreover has become my mentor. Without his enormous kindness, support and personal commitment, I would not have been able to initiate and realize my survey project. His personal visit to my site highly honoured me and I would like to say a wholehearted “Ευχαριστώ” for his endless time, sharing with me his expert knowledge on ancient harbour studies and providing me with information on the Mediterranean and particularly Greek world of archaeology. Further, I am greatly indebted to the Greek Archaeological Services, the Greek Ephorate for Underwater Antiquities, the 13th Greek Ephorate for Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities and the 7th Greek Ephorate for Byzantine Antiquities for giving me the opportunity to work in Thessaly. For that, I would like to thank deeply Dr. Angeliki Simosi (Director of the Greek Ephorate for Underwater Antiquities), Dr. Argyroula Doulgeri-Intzesiloglou (Director of the 13th Greek Ephorate for Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities) and Dr. Stavroula Sdrolia (Director of the 7th Greek Ephorate for Byzantine Antiquities) for trusting in me and the important outcome of my work. Despite the incredibly difficult situation in Greece caused by the economic crisis, they have personally fought for me, for which I will always be in their dept. It is extremely rare to have the pleasure to meet and work with such open-minded, understanding and trustworthy directors. Under the leadership of Dr. Simosi, Dr. Doulgeri-Intzesiloglou and Dr. Sdrolia, it is a pure pleasure to work in Greece and to cooperate with the Greek Archaeological Authorities. As such, I look forward to continue our fruitful joint programme and future cooperations. Of course the results would not have been the same without my dear colleagues Ms. Magda Athanasoula and Ms. Eleni Chrysopoulou, as well as the highly experienced divers of the Archaeological Services. I am very grateful for their help, support and their commitment for a wonderful cooperation. Further, I would equally like to thank my international team of specialists in underwater and Roman archaeology, Ms. Katia Schörle (Oxford) and Mr. Eric Carlsson, Mr. David Abella, Mr. David Santos and Mr. Nacho Crespo (from the Spanish underwater archaeological company “ARGOS Underwater Services”) for accompanying and assisting me during my survey project. Their highly professional work and great experience as divers and archaeologists helped me making this project that successful. I look forward to continue working with them and to learn from their expertise. My personal gratitude is expressed to the local party of the “Anexartiti Kinisi Politon Skiathou” (Independent Movement of Skiathos’ Citizens), and particularly to the dedication and financial as well as personal support of its leader Anastasia Filaretou. She spared no effort to solve any kind of obstacles and to ensure smooth and great working conditions on the island of Skiathos. Finally, I would like to thank my dear friend Pavlos for sharing my interest on Greek archaeology and tirelessly driving me around to archaeological sites throughout Thessaly, thus making my work a pure pleasure. My understanding of the Thessalian topography and archaeology benefited also greatly through personal observations and the useful discussions I had with my dear colleagues, the archaeologists and other scholars such as Dr. Grigoris Stournaras (Volos), Dr. Dimitris Drakoulis (Thessaloniki). Particular gratitude is also expressed to my Oxford colleague and friend, Dr. Anna Kouremenos for her useful comments and help in the final stage of my thesis, and my colleague Ms. Carmela Franco for helping me with the ceramics. Concerning financial assistance, I would have been unable to undertake my survey project without the financial support offered by the Alexandros S. Onassis Foundation (Research scholarship 2011-2012), as well as Merton College (Simms Grant, Travel Grant and Supplementary Research Grant 2012 & 2013), the University of Oxford (Thomas Whitcombe Greene Grant 2012 by the Craven Committee) and the Institute of Archaeology (Meyerstein Research Award 2012), which enabled me to meet the costs of my fieldwork in Thessaly. BYZANTINE PORTS Central Greece as a link between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea A thesis in two volumes (Vol. I.: Text, Vol. II.: Illustrations, Plates, Catalogue of finds, Maps, Permission) Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Archaeology Hilary Term 2014 ALKIVIADIS GINALIS Merton College Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford Abstract This thesis presents a first archaeological introduction to the study of Byzantine ports, harbours and other coastal installations in the region of Thessaly. Thessaly not only constitutes an ideal region to gain equal information for the Early- to the Late Byzantine periods, but also to compare independent regional and imperial central building activities. However, in particular Thessaly’s maritime connectivity has never been studied in detail before. As such, a first step into a terra incognita, the thesis is divided into two main sections: In order to conceptualize the study of harbour sites, the thesis first sets up a framework for the definition, understanding and interpretation of the physical features of harbours and their function and purpose. Taking into account influencing environmental conditions, such as natural, economic, social and political components, this helps to determine an accurate hierarchical model and to illustrate the interrelationship between different types and forms of harbour sites. Subsequently, comprehensive archaeological investigations around the island of Skiathos and other harbour sites in Thessaly, executed in 2012 and 2013, are set against this theoretical groundwork. In contrast to the common approach of regional studies, where a first general overview is followed by individual detailed case-studies, the opposite methodology is undertaken in order to achieve a systematic study of the Thessalian harbours and the complexity of their network system. Consequently, the collection of data starts from the analysis of a distinct area of a region and continues with the broader regional picture of primary ports, secondary harbours and staple markets. Functioning as an important junction of the Aegean shipping lanes and being involved in regional as well as supra-regional trade and port networks, focus is therefore primarily dedicated to the island of Skiathos. A joint survey project in cooperation with the Greek Ephorate for Underwater Antiquities (EEA), the 13th Greek Ephorate for Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities and the 7th Greek Ephorate for Byzantine Antiquities was initiated by the author in 2012. A number of sites, including harbour installations and other coastal infrastructures, have been detected, documented and subsequently verified by geophysical prospections, using a Sub-bottom profiler and Side-Scan Sonar, in 2013. These have allowed to draw a clear historical picture of architectural developments,