CAA2002 International Conference: Computer Applications& Quantitative Methods in Archaeology. The Digital Heritage of Archaeology, Herakleion, Crete, 2-6 April, 2002.

Μycenaean Dimini: Integration of Geophysical Surveying and GIS

Sarris, A.1, Topouzi, S.1, Adrimi-Sismani, V.2

1Laboratory of Geophysical-Satellite Remote Sensing and Arcaeo-environment, Institute of Mediterranean Studies-Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas (F.O.R.T.H.), Melissinou and Nikiforou Foka 130, PO. Box 119, Rethymnon 74100, Crete, . [email protected]

213th Ephoreia of Prehistoric & Classical Antiquities, Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Museum of , Volos, Greece, [email protected]

Abstract. The employment of geophysical prospection techniques proved valuable in the mapping of subsurface monuments of Mycenaean Dimini, revealing a wealth of information regarding the structural planning of the settlement. Magnetic, soil resistivity, and electromagnetic surveys were carried out covering an area of more than 29,000 square meters, mainly to the south and west of the settlement. Of the above techniques, magnetic surveying was particularly successful in outlining the architectural remnants of the site and guiding the excavations in a precise way. Up to date excavations by the 13th Eforia of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities uncovered two megaron–type monumental buildings, Megaron A and B, with an open space, perhaps a central court, between them. The two Megara consist of different rooms identified as storage areas, workshops, cult areas and residence places, covering an area of 3.500m2. For the better management of the archaeological site and monuments, the geophysical maps were registered on the topographic layout and the aerial imagery of the wider region. A Geographic Information System was developed for the interactive management of the above information layers through the Internet, providing a different dimension of the usage of geophysical survey in archaeological research. According to the present archaeological data, Mycenaean Dimini constituted an administrative centre, which reached its peak in the 14th-13th ce. B.C. The importance of the Mycenaean megaron structures and the close associations of the settlement with the rest of the Greek mainland, Asia Minor and the Levant suggest that it can be identified with ancient Iolkos. Key words: Geophysical prospection, GIS, CRM, Dimini.

1 Introduction of coverage with geophysical techniques is over 29,000 sq. m., with small regions of overlap during the different survey seasons The archaeological site of Dimini is located in , central (Sarris, et al, 2001; Sarris & Jones, 2000). Greece and it is well known of its Neolithic settlement, excavated in the early 20th century. Within the period of 1977 – 1997, many rescue excavations took place to the east of the hill on the Neolithic settlement of Dimini covering an area of 1,200m2. Traces of habitation were dated to all phases of the Bronze Age, while the best-preserved traces were dated to the Late Bronze Age. The Neolithic hill was also used as a cemetery during the Middle and the Late Bronze Ages. We do not have enough evidence for the size of the settlement in each period or a AREA A6 possible movement or interruption of habitation. According to AREA A5 AREA A1 the present data, the area of Dimini has traces of habitation dated AREA A2 from the to the Late Helladic period. By the end AREA A4 of the 13th cent B.C. the settlement was abandoned (Adrimi- AREA A3 Sismani, 1996; 1992). Until 1997, to the E of the hill of the Neolithic settlement (Fig. 1), 11 houses dated to the Mycenaean period were uncovered, together with a kiln dated to the early phases of the Mycenaean Fig. 1. The wider region of the archaeological site of Dimini and era. The houses were built with a common orientation (W  E) the areas that became the focus of geophysical research. almost parallel to a wide road (45 x 4,50m), which leads through the settlement (Αdrimi-Sismani, 1994:23-26). Geophysical mapping was carried out in four phases (1997, 2 Geophysical Survey Methods

1998, 2000 and 2001). After the 1997 campaign (conducted in A large part of the site has been explored with more than one area A1), intensive excavations have started and the first geophysical technique (Fig. 2), including magnetic, soil monumental buildings, places of residence of the rulers of resistance and electromagnetic methods. A number of controlled Dimini, have been uncovered. The 1998 survey was expanded in experiments conducted above specific targets in 1997, the regions A1 and A2, while the last two phases of the survey coverage of the site with a small sampling interval (1-0.25m) and explored the areas south and south-west of the Neolithic the verification of a large number of potential targets enhanced settlement (regions A3, A4, A5 & A6). Up to now, the total area the interpretation of geophysical maps.

CAA2002 International Conference: Computer Applications& Quantitative Methods in Archaeology. The Digital Heritage of Archaeology, Herakleion, Crete, 2-6 April, 2002.

and registered in the magnetic data. The first target was AREA A1 (1997) AREA A1 (1998) AREA A1 (1997 & 1998) AREA A2 (1998) 9 0.00 excavated and it was found to correspond to a large structure of 1 00.00 100.00 100.00

8 0.00 90.00 9 0.00 9 0.00 megaron type (megaron A), which was extended towards region

80.00 8 0.00 8 0.00 7 0.00

70.00 7 0.00 7 0.00 6 0.00 A2.

60.00 6 0.00 6 0.00 5 0.00 A number of linear characteristics are obvious all over the 50.00 5 0.00 5 0.00 4 0.00

40.00 4 0.00 4 0.00

3 0.00 region covered by magnetic techniques (Fig. 3), some of which 30.00 3 0.00 3 0.00

2 0.00 20.00 2 0.00 2 0.00 are easily distinguished from the regional magnetic trend (e.g. 10.00 1 0.00 1 0.00 1 0.00 the region x=25-45Ε, y=55-100Ν). These potential targets were 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0 .00 10.00 20.00 3 0.00 4 0.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 8 0.00 0.00 10.00 2 0.00 3 0.00 40.00 50.00 6 0.00 7 0.00 80.00 0 .00 10.00 2 0.00 3 0.00 40.00 50.00 6 0.00 7 0.00 80.00 0 .00 10.00 20.00 30.00 4 0.00 identified for further investigation and some of them were AREA A3 (2000 & 2001) AREA A6 (2001) AREA A4 (2000 & 2001) AREA A5 (2000 & 2001)

110.00 60.00 1 20.00 1 20.00 excavated, revealing 2 large structural complexes of megaron

55.00 1 10.00 1 10.00 100.00

50.00 1 00.00 1 00.00 type, in good conservation conditions. Creating a diagrammatic 90.00

45.00 9 0.00 90.00 80.00 40.00 8 0.00 80.00 representation of the geophysical anomalies, it becomes evident 70.00 35.00 7 0.00 70.00 60.00 30.00 6 0.00 60.00 from both soil resistance and magnetic data that the structures of 50.00 25.00 5 0.00 50.00

40.00 20.00 4 0.00 40.00 the Mycenaean settlement are laid in a SE to NW direction. This

30.00 15.00 3 0.00 30.00

20.00 10.00 2 0.00 20.00 is also in agreement to the results of older excavations. 10.00 5 .00 1 0.00 10.00 VERTICAL MAGNETIC GRADIENT SURVEY

0 .00 0 .00 0.00 0 .00 0.00 1 0.00 20.00 3 0.00 40.00 50.00 6 0.00 0.00 5.00 1 0.00 15.00 2 0.00 0 .00 20.00 40.00 60.00 8 0.00 100.00 0 .00 10.00 20.00 3 0.00 40.00 5 0.00 60.00 7 0.00 60.00 60.00

Magnetic survey (FM36) Resistivity survey (RM15) - Twin Probe (a=1m) 50.00 50.00 Electromagnetic survey (EM31) Resistivity survey (RM15) - Twin Probe (a=0.5m) 40.00 40.00

200 nT/m 18 nT/m 160 nT/m 14 nT/m 30.00 120 nT/m 30.00 10 nT/m 80 nT/m 6 nT/m Fig. 2. Geophysical grids and method of geophysical prospection 40 nT/m 2 nT/m 20.00 0 nT/m 20.00 -2 nT/m applied in each area of the archaeological site. -40 nT/m -6 nT/m -80 nT/m -10 nT/m 10.00 -120 nT/m 10.00 DYNAMIC RANGE -14 nT/m DYNAMIC RANGE -160 nT/m -20, 20 nT -18 nT/m -200, 208 nT -200 nT/m 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00 Soil resistance measurements were carried out using a 60.00 60.00 Geoscan RM15 resistivity meter with a Twin Probe 50.00 50.00 configuration (1m sampling interval and 1-0.5m electrode 40.00 40.00

10 nT/m spacing). The vertical magnetic gradient was measured with a 1 nT/m 8 nT/m 0 nT/m 30.00 6 nT/m 30.00 -1 nT/m Geoscan FM36 fluxgate gradiometer with a 0.5-0.25m sampling 4 nT/m

2 nT/m -2 nT/m interval and a 0.5m sensor height. Finally, a Geonics EM31 was 20.00 0 nT/m 20.00 -3 nT/m -2 nT/m -4 nT/m -4 nT/m -5 nT/m employed for the measurements of both soil conductivity and -6 nT/m 10.00 10.00 DYNAMIC RANGE -6 nT/m DYNAMIC RANGE -8 nT/m -7, 1 nT -7 nT/m magnetic susceptibility. The use of more than one technique was -10, 10 nT -10 nT/m 0.00 0.00 necessary due to the multiple occupation layers of the site, the 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00 difference of the surface soil conditions in various parts of the site and the variation of the depth of the expected subsurface Fig. 3. Compression of the dynamic range of the original values targets. of the vertical magnetic gradient was successful in revealing the Processing of data was carried out with Krigging griding outline of subsurface architectural structures. techniques and the application of directional derivatives, high and low pass smoothing filters, compression of the dynamic In area A3, located south of the Neolithic settlement, in the range of the original values and removal of trend. A few parts of lower slopes of the hill which extends south of the the site exhibited a systematic noise, originating from land archaeological site, a number of Mycenaean tombs have been cultivation. exposed, a few of which extend up to 50-70cm below the More specifically, during the second, third and fourth seasons surface. Compression of the dynamic range of the vertical of high-resolution gradiometer survey, high noise-to-signal ratios magnetic gradient data revealed a number of isolated anomalies were encountered in regions A2, A4 and A5, due to land and a few other linear high intensity anomalies. One of them is clearance practices, conducted by pulling around a burning tyre, located in the northern region, running in a diagonal direction the internal thin metal matrix of which was dispersed all over the (from east to west) for more than 60m. Similar characteristics region under study. This noise is presented in a form of a appear in the western section of the area, which are especially directional trend from SE to NW. Smoothing of noise was evident in the resistivity measurements (Fig. 4). A high achieved with the application of directional derivatives or the resistivity curvilinear anomaly extends throughout the western application of shading techniques (Sarris, 1998). section of the region, for more than 100m in a SE to NW direction. A few other similar anomalies seem to start from the 3 Geophysical Results latter and extend towards the NE. The isolated anomalies could be correlated to the presence of Mycenaean tombs, while it has Areas A1 and A2 are located southeast of the Neolithic been suggested that the curvilinear anomalies could originate settlement and they were surveyed with EM, soil resistance and from the presence of Roman monuments, such as an aqueduct. magnetic techniques. The soil resistance measurements are in Actually, the large curvilinear anomaly to the west follows an agreement to the EM data. The latter show a number of iso-elevation contour surrounding the lower slopes of the hill. anomalies in the central and western side of the region, Area A4 constitutes the extension of area A2 to the southeast. emphasized by the application of shading techniques and the The southern side of the area is at the limits of the modern calculation of directional derivatives (Johnson, et al 1999). The village of Dimini. The measurements of the magnetic gradient regions located at (x=0-8E, y=65-75N), (x=15-20E, y=27-37N) survey were also influenced by the past plowing activities of the and (x=25-30E, y=50-56N) were identified as potential targets, field, showing diagonal lines in the SE to NW direction (Fig. 5).

CAA2002 International Conference: Computer Applications& Quantitative Methods in Archaeology. The Digital Heritage of Archaeology, Herakleion, Crete, 2-6 April, 2002.

The eastern side of the region shows a number of linear 120 anomalies in agreement to the anomalies detected in area A2. A linear trend appears in the western section of the area, which 110 after extending for more than 45m in a west to east direction, D1 100 makes a turn and probably continues further to the north. The D5 latter anomaly lies west of an excavation trench, which brought to light megaron A, located in area A2. The signal of the 90 anomaly suggests that it consists of two parallel parts better D4 80 preserved than the rest linear anomalies. The latter may have D3 been partially destroyed due to the plowing activities in the D2 70 D10 neighboring field. Finally, the dipole character of the high intensity anomaly at (x=24E y=67Ν) suggests that it could be 60 D6 caused by the presence of a kiln structure of dimensions 5x5m.

50 D7

40 D8 MYCENAEAN DIMINI GEOPHYSICAL MAPPING (2000-2001 SURVEY SEASON) - AREA A3 SOIL RESISTANCE TECHNIQUES (TWIN PROBE CONFIGURATION) 30 tree/bushes D9 metal fences metal fragments Laboratory of Geophysical - Satellite Remote Sensing & Archaeo-environment stone pile/back fill soil Institute for Mediterranena Studies - Foundation of Research & Technology, Hellas (F.O.R.T.H.) 20 magnetic anomalies DYNAMIC RANGE: 32 - 46 Ohms 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

110.00 110.00 Fig. 5. Results of the magnetic survey in Area A4.

100.00 100.00 Area A5 is located SW of the Neolithic settlement and extends 90.00 90.00 45 Ohms 45 Ohms between two secondary roads, one of which leads to the main 80.00 80.00 entrance of the archaeological site. The area was also cultivated 43 Ohms 43 Ohms 70.00 70.00 until recently when it was expropriated, together with area A4, 41 Ohms 41 Ohms 60.00 60.00 by the Archaeological Service.

39 Ohms 39 Ohms 50.00 50.00 Most of the site was explored by magnetic techniques, while

37 Ohms 37 Ohms the eastern section of it, which is located close to the fence of the 40.00 40.00 Neolithic settlement, was explored by soil resistance techniques. 30.00 35 Ohms 30.00 35 Ohms Most of the interest of the geophysical anomalies is focused on 20.00 33 Ohms 20.00 33 Ohms the eastern section of the area, where magnetic data suggest a

10.00 10.00 potential enclosure wall (possibly part of the Neolithic

0.00 0.00 settlement), which extends to the south, together with a few more 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 rectangular features that could be identified with structural Soil resistance Vertical magnetic gradient remains (Fig. 6). A few other structures are also suggested by 110.00 110.00 C1 C1 the resistivity measurements in the NE section of the region. 100.00 100.00 C2 C2 tree/bushes metal fences 90.00 SOIL RESISTANCE CONTOURS DIAGRAMMATIC REPRESENTATION 90.00 metal fragments SUPERIMPOSED ON THE MAGNETIC MAP OF GEOPHYSICAL ANOMALIES stone pile/back fill soil C4 45 Ohms 120.00 C5 C4 120.00 magnetic anomalies C10 C10 C5 resistivity anomalies 80.00 C3 E1 80.00 C3 C6 C6 110.00 110.00 E2 C8 C7 43 Ohms C7 70.00 C8 SOIL RESISTANCE MAP 70.00 100.00 100.00 41 Ohms C9 C12 C9 E3 60.00 C12 90.00 90.00 C11 60.00 90.00 C13 C13 C11 E4 E5 39 Ohms 80.00 80.00 50.00 80.00 50.00 E7 C15 70.00 E6 70.00 C14 37 Ohms C15 70.00 40.00 C14 40.00 C24 C24 60.00 E8 60.00 C17 C17 60.00 30.00 C16 35 Ohms 30.00 C16 C18 C18 50.00 50.00 E10 50.00 C19 C19 E9 20.00 33 Ohms 20.00 E11 C20 C20 40.00 40.00 40.00 C23 C22 C23 10.00 C22 30.00 30.00 C21 tree/bushes 10.00 C21 30.00 tombs metal fragments C10 20.00 0.00 stone pile/back fill soil C10 20.00 20.00 magnetic anomalies 0.00 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 E14 resistivity anomalies E15 10.00 10.00 10.00 E13 E12 0.00 0.00 0.00 Fig. 4. Soil resistance techniques applied in Area A3 revealed a 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 number of potential archaeological targets (above). The final interpretation was based on the comparison between the soil Fig. 6. Overlay of the soil resistivity contours on the vertical resistance and the vertical magnetic gradient maps. The magnetic gradient map (left), together with the diagrammatic diagramatic representation of the anomalies is shown in the representation of the candidate targets (middle) and the map of corresponding maps (below). the soil resistance measurements (right).

CAA2002 International Conference: Computer Applications& Quantitative Methods in Archaeology. The Digital Heritage of Archaeology, Herakleion, Crete, 2-6 April, 2002.

Area A6 extends NE of area A1, having a slight overlap with it to the north. A few meters northeast of area A6, excavations revealed a dense distribution of structures belonging to the Mycenaean settlement. Similar results were concluded by the application of geophysical techniques. A dense network of linear anomalies is present mainly in the magnetic data suggesting that the region was also part of the central habitation segments of the settlement (Fig. 7).

MYCENAEAN DIMINI GEOPHYSICAL MAPPING (2000-2001 SURVEY SEASON) - AREA A6 VERTICAL MAGNETIC GRADIENT PROCESSING: COMPRESSION OF DYNAMIC RANGE

Laboratory of Geophysical - Satellite Remote Sensing & Archaeo-environment Institute for Mediterranena Studies - Foundation of Research & Technology, Hellas (F.O.R.T.H.)

D YNAMIC RANGE: -76.2, 55.95 nT/mD YNAMIC RANGE: +/- 10 nT/m DYNAMIC RANGE: +/- 5 nT/m 60.00 60.00 60.00 60.00 F1 55.00 55.00 55.00 55.00

F2 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 9.00 nT/m 5.00 nT/m 3.00 nT/m 50.00 nT/m F3

45.00 45.00 7.00 nT/m 45.00 4.00 nT/m 45.00 F4 2.00 nT/m 30.00 nT/m 3.00 nT/m F5 40.00 40.00 5.00 nT/m 40.00 40.00

2.00 nT/m 3.00 nT/m F6 1.00 nT/m 35.00 10.00 nT/m 35.00 35.00 35.00 F7 1.00 nT/m 1.00 nT/m 30.00 30.00 30.00 30.00 -10.00 nT/m 0.00 nT/m F8 0.00 nT/m -1.00 nT/m

25.00 25.00 25.00 -1.00 nT/m 25.00 F9 -3.00 nT/m -30.00 nT/m F11 -1.00 nT/m -2.00 nT/m F10 20.00 20.00 -5.00 nT/m 20.00 20.00 -50.00 nT/m -3.00 nT/m F12 -2.00 nT/m 15.00 15.00 -7.00 nT/m 15.00 15.00 F13 -4.00 nT/m -70.00 nT/m -9.00 nT/m F16 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 -3.00 nT/m 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 F15 F14 F17 Fig. 8. Background layers of the Geographical Information 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 System, which was created for the better representation of the results of the geophysical survey and the management of the Fig. 7. Area A6. Compression of the dynamic range of the cultural resources of the archaeological site of Dimini. magnetic values and diagrammatic representation of the magnetic anomalies. Experiments were also carried out to link the various information regarding the geophysical grids. A number of hotlink extensions (such as the Hotlink Visual Studio, 4 Integration of Results and construction of a GIS Slideshow, HotPotato, etc) were tried out. The GMI’s Hotlink Manager was found as the most satisfactory for our purposes, The geophysical campaign conducted in the wider region of since it was easily incorporated to the GIS environment, the archaeological site of Dimini since 1997 has contributed allowing different degrees of freedom in managing links to files, significantly to the planning of excavations and the general which were even not native to the ArcView platform. One of the promotion of the Mycenaean settlement. Geophysical advantages of the extension is that the files open in their native prospection was responsible for mapping the habitation units of or associated software (Fig. 10). In this way, it became possible the site, indicating two main complexes of megaron type and to link the polygons of the geophysical grids (in transparent suggesting the extent of the settlement to the southeast. color) with the corresponding data and data processing software Still, it becomes obvious that it is hard to combine all the (Surfer), the excavation plans and the corresponding design results of the geophysical survey carried out in different time software (in Acad), etc. In this way, it is possible to apply periods and within a different spatial context. For the better further processing of the raw geophysical measurements, view a management of the archaeological site and monuments, the number of images or videos regarding the methodology of the geophysical maps were registered on the topographic layout and employment of the geophysical techniques and the the aerial imagery of the wider region. A Geographic corresponding environmental conditions of the site, refine the Information System was developed for the interactive plans of the monuments based on the excavation results and management of the above information layers, providing a update the GIS layers of the system in a much more interactive different dimension of the usage of geophysical survey in and effective way. archaeological research. Thus, the final system can be used as a tool to direct The background layers of the Geographic Information System excavations based on the results of the geophysical survey, consist of the Digital Elevation Model of the area, created by updating continuously its geographic information context. Of digitization of the 4m elevation contours taken by a 1:5000 scale great importance is also the fact that in this way it can be map of the Geographic Service of the Hellenic Army, the possible to monitor the progress of the excavations and compare elevation contours, two aerial photos (one showing the landuse the results of the excavations with the interpretation of the of the region and another representing the current state of the geophysical maps, checking the signal generated by the landscape), the recent road network and the outline of the main corresponding targets. This operation allows the creation of a buildings and private estates of the modern village (Fig. 8). more synthetic picture of the archaeological site and its The geophysical maps were overlaid on the above layers architectural monuments (Fig. 11). Finally, the modification of creating three main thematic maps: resistivity, magnetics and the system and its installation to a Web environment has been diagrammatic representation of the geophysical anomalies proposed to act as a model for the creation of electronic (Fig.9). The above layers can be interactively activated to show geophysical databanks in the Mediterranean (Jones & Sarris, the relation between the results of the excavations and the 2001). geophysical prospection survey and the continuing expansion and development of the modern village.

CAA2002 International Conference: Computer Applications& Quantitative Methods in Archaeology. The Digital Heritage of Archaeology, Herakleion, Crete, 2-6 April, 2002.

Fig. 10. Functionality of GMI’s Hotlink Manager tool, which was used to link the geophysical grids with the corresponding raw data, photos from both the employment of geophysical survey and the excavation results, plans of the architectural remnants, etc.

Fig. 11. Comparison of the interpretation of the geophysical maps and the actual results of excavations can lead to the enhancement of the geophysical methods and the creation of a synthetic view of the architectural relics of an archaeological site.

5 Final Remarks

Until today, excavations, based on the results of the geophysical survey, have uncovered two megaron – type monumental buildings (Megaron A and Megaron B) with an open space, perhaps a central court, between them. Megaron A consists of two parts, connected with a long Fig. 9. Overlay of the layout of the surface monuments, corridor. The northern part consists of three large residential excavation results and geophysical maps on the DEM and the rooms and a court with columns. The southern part consists of topographic layout of the modern settlement. Creation of ten small rooms used as workshops and storage rooms. Megaron thematic maps: Resistivity (above), magnetics (middle) and A (measuring 36,50 x 12,00m) is surrounded by a group of small interpretation of geophysical anomalies (below). and large rooms, used for storage purposes. In one of these

CAA2002 International Conference: Computer Applications& Quantitative Methods in Archaeology. The Digital Heritage of Archaeology, Herakleion, Crete, 2-6 April, 2002. storage rooms a large lead pithoid jar along with large clay References storage jars was uncovered. In the corridor, which connects the two parts of Megaron A, clay and figurines, metal jewelers, and ADRIMI-SISMANI, V., 1992, O Mykenaikos Oikismos sto weapon, stone tools, clay and stone whorls were found, together Dimini, in Proceedings of an International Conference for with six stone molds, used for making jeweler and tools. A stone to the memory of D. R. Theochari weight inscribed with was also uncovered. (), 271-78. A central court connects Megaron A with Megaron B. The ADRIMI-SISMANI, V., 1994, H Mykinaiki Poli sto Dimini. latter is also surrounded by a group of storage rooms, within Neotera Dedomena gia tin Archea Iolko, Proceedings of the which a sherd inscribed with Linear B was uncovered. Megaron th meeting with title “Neotera Dedomena ton Erevnon gia tin B was destroyed by fire at the end of the 13 cent B.C. and was Archea Iolko”, May 12, 1993, Volos, p.17-45. abandoned. In contrast to Megaron A, there are no traces of re- ADRIMI-SISMANI, V., 1996, The Mycenaean town at Dimini: occupation in Megaron B. 2 new data about Ancient Iolkos, Incunabula Graeca XCVIII3, The two Megara (A and B) cover an area of 3.500m . The 1295-1309. rooms have been identified as storage areas, workshops, cult JOHNSON, A. C., SARRIS A., AMZA-PREIN M. E., 1999, "A areas and residence places. Excavations at Dimini are still in New Interactive FFT-Based Grid Suturing Technique progress. According to the present data, we are dealing with an Applied to Ground Geophysical Surveys in Greece", 2nd administrative center that controlled the production, the storage Balkan Geophysical Congress and Exhibition, Instabul, July and redistribution of various products. This center reached its 5-9, 1999. th th peak in the 14 and 13 cent. B.C. and had association not only JONES, R & SARRIS, A., 2001, “Electronic Databanks for with the rest of the Greek Mainland, but also with Asia Minor Mediterranean Geophysical Surveys: Expectations and and the Levant. Deliverables for Practitioners & Archaeologists”, 4th Int. Excavations were able to identify Mycenaean Dimini with Conf. on Archaeological Prospection, Austrian Academy of ancient Iolkos. Together with the results of the geophysical Sciences, Vienna, September 19-23, 2001. survey and GIS it is possible to have a much more synthetic SARRIS, A., 1998, "Geophysical Issues in Archaeological picture of the extent of the site and its environs. Moving a step Research: Paradigms, Uncertainties & Inferences", invited further, a virtual reconstruction of the settlement is possible (Fig. talk at the International Symposium on Remote Sensing in 12), allowing researchers and visitors to obtain a more realistic Archaeology, Boston University, Boston, U.S.A., 16-19 view of the site as reflected in the myth of the Argonauts. April, 1998. SARRIS, A. & JONES, R., 2000, “Geophysical and Related Techniques Applied to Archaeological Survey in the Mediterranean: A Review”, Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology (JMA), v.13, no.1, pp. 3-75, June 2000. SARRIS, A, ADRIMI-SISMANI, V., TOPOUZI, S., SOETENS, S., TRIANTAFYLLIDIS, F., KEVGAS, V., KARATHANASIS, CH., GIOUROU, A., TZANETEAS, K., MAVROUDIS, TH. , KARIMALIS, K., KARIMALI, E., PAPADAKI, A. & G. KRITIKAKIS, 2001, “Geophysical Prospection in Μycenaean Dimini, (Greece)”, 4th Int. Conf. on Archaeological Prospection, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, September 19-23, 2001.

Fig. 12. Construction of a virtual reality model of the Mycenaean Dimini (ancient Iolkos).

Appendix A. Software: Processing of geophysical data was  carried out with Geoplot and Surfer, while the GIS module of the  project was achieved through the use of ArcView 3.2 Digitization of topographic maps was performed using  Acad2000. Processing of the digitized data, together with the VR design and virtual flight component, was carried out using TNTMips software package.