‘Finding Old Sikyon’, 2015 A preliminary report
RUNE FREDERIKSEN, KONSTANTINOS KISSAS, JAMIESON DONATI, GIORGOS GIANNAKOPOU! LOS, SILKE MÜTH, VASSILIOS PAPATHANASIOU, WOLFGANG RABBEL, HARALD STÜMPEL, KATHA! RINA RUSCH & KRISTINA WINTHER!JACOBSEN
In memory of Anastasios Orlandos that a major Archaic and Classical polis was given up at a and Serapheim Charitonidis clearly dened date and never built over aerwards, either by later ancient or larger medieval or modern selements. e project ‘Finding Old Sikyon’ is a cooperation be- Old Sikyon will thus – as one of the rare examples in tween the Ephorate of Antiquities of Corinth, the Na- the Greek motherland – allow us to study in detail the tional Museum of Denmark, the Danish Institute at genesis and processes of development of an important Athens and the Institute of Geoscience of the Christian city between natural growth and systematic planning. Albrechts University of Kiel. It is planned as a ve-year Moreover, the archaeological investigation of Old Sikyon project, the actual running permit covering the rst two will allow us to mirror the accounts of the wrien sources years. e project was conceived by former Director of on this very active centre of art in seizable archaeological the Danish Institute at Athens Rune Frederiksen with remains and thus to evaluate their reliability. Finally, it the aim of identifying the exact location and major fea- will inform us about the structure and organization of a tures of the city, prior to its relocation in ! ! BC to the famous centre of art and culture in comparison with other plateau of Vasiliko by Demetrios Poliorketes. e project such centres like Corinth and Athens. studies the topography of the pre-Hellenistic city and its e ve-week eld season during the summer of surrounding landscape, hoping to identify the course of was directed by Dr. Rune Frederiksen (now Ny Carlsberg the city walls, the location of the harbour, major public Glyptotek, Copenhagen). With the assistance of Giorgos spaces, monumental architecture and dwelling quarters Giannakopoulos, Dr. Kristina Winther-Jacobsen (now with houses, streets etc. Rescue excavations of the Archae- Director of the Danish Institute at Athens) directed the ological Service and the Archaeological Society at Athens intensive systematic survey with the participation of have already brought signicant evidence to light, and twenty students from the Universities of Copenhagen, the project intends to conduct a systematic search for the Aarhus and Southern Denmark, as well as two students city in order to understand its main elements, material, from the National and Kapodistrian University of Ath- size, form and topography. is, however, is intended to ens. Vasilis Oikonomou directed the nds registration. serve the greater purpose of answering general questions Geophysical survey was carried out by the research team of Archaic and Classical urbanism, as it is a very rare case ‘Archeo-Geophysics’ of the Institute of Geoscience,
e project obtained authorization for and " with a Ministerial Decree (ΥΠΟΠΑΙΘ/ΓΔΑΠΚ/ΔΙΠΚΑ/ΤΕΕΑΕΙ/"5"55/!67/7. ". ). e synergasia is directed by Dr. Konstantinos Kissas, Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Corinth and Dr. Silke Müth of the National Muse- um, Denmark. 305 PROCEEDINGS OF THE DANISH INSTITUTE AT ATHENS ∙ VOL UME VIII
Fig. . GIS map of the research area with the rivers and plateau.
Christian Albrechts University of Kiel under the direc- Classical Studies excavated major parts of the theatre be- tion of Prof. Wolfgang Rabbel, and Eastern Atlas GmbH tween and , and during the th century excava- & Co, Berlin under the direction of Burkart Ullrich. Dr. tions conducted by the Archaeological Society at Athens Jamieson Donati of the Institute for Mediterranean Stud- brought additional monumental structures to light, i.e. ies applied remote sensing methods to the project area. the temple, the gymnasium-palaistra, the long stoa and e area under examination is located in the marine parts of the theatre’s koilon. From until a plain of Kiato and is dened by the Asopos river towards survey took place on the Hellenistic plateau under the the south, the Helisson river towards the north, the east cooperation of the Ephorate of Antiquities, the University slopes of the plateau of Hellenistic Sikyon towards the of essaly, the Institute for Mediterranean Studies at west and the sea towards the east (Fig. ). Several archae- Rethymnon and the University of York. ological sites identied since the s are located within e mission of the Archaeological Service in the area the project area, such as Ayios Konstantinos, Ayios Niko- goes back to the s, producing important knowledge laos, Moulki, Syriona, Chtiri, Palaiochori, Dragatsoula for the topography of pre-Hellenistic Sikyon. During the and Merkouri (Fig. ). emergency excavations for the suburban railway ( -) In Yannis Lolos published his synthesizing study and the national highway Corinth-Patras (since ), of Sikyonia in Hesperia Supplements, but systematic ar- residential structures, workshops, cemeteries and ancient chaeological research in Sikyon has up to now focused roads have come to light. mainly on the Hellenistic city. e American School of
ΦΕΚ /Β/. ., YA /. .. Brownson & Young , Earle a; b; ; Fiechter ; Fossum %; Krystalli-Votsi ; ; a; b; McMurtry ; Orlandos ; ; %; ; ; ; ; ; ; %; %; %%; %; Petrakos ; Philadelpheus . 306 Lolos et al. ; . FREDERIKSEN ET AL. ∙ ‘FINDING OLD SIKYON’, 2015
Systematic Intensive Survey revealed the in situ remains of Classical habitation (Ayios e aim of the systematic intensive survey is to under- Konstantinos, Kamaratiza and Syriona, see also below). stand the selement paern in the plain of Kiato from a However, due to the complications of the thick sedimen- diachronic perspective. e survey area – approximately tation and poor visibility in general we chose to prioritize square km – occupies the western part of the Vocha survey units with high visibility within the entire survey marine plain, which spreads from Corinth to Kiato and area. Consequently, the survey results give a patchy image, consists of three marine terraces with only minor altitude but we have managed to sample all the zones during the variations between them. e highest altitude of m is rst season. found on the eastern slopes of the Hellenistic plateau. Generally, the landscape appears homogeneous except for the hills of Palaiochori and Tragana. Methodology Apart from Asopos and Helisson, the two rivers con- e systematic intensive methodology and research stra- stituting the southern and northern boundaries of the tegy was adapted for the conditions in the Plain of Kia- project’s area, the landscape is highly hydrogenous due to by Kristina Winther-Jacobsen, based on experiences to many streams, as well as arti cial channels for watering from e Troodos Archaeological and Environmental Survey the elds. e northeast of the area is occupied by the Project , e Dzarylgac Survey Project , and the Where East town of Kiato and the northwest by the modern sele- meets West project. Four teams carried out the eldwork ment of Moulki, with secondary selements at Palaio- and the daily processing of the nds, supervised by Vasilis chori and Tragana. e area is intensely cultivated, the Oikonomou. Each team worked as an individual unit of crops consisting mainly of apricot trees, citrus trees and four people supervised by a team leader. vineyards, as well as olive trees and vegetables. Initially the aim was only to survey ploughed or har- Very few structures are recorded in situ on the surface rowed elds with !-" visibility. However, visibility in the area included in the permit, and recent as well as proved to be the great challenge, because more elds than current emergency excavations at the railroad and the expected were covered with thick vegetation. Visibility national highway have demonstrated that part of the sur- was recorded in ranges of ". Visibilities over !" were vey area is covered with a layer of alluvial sedimentation recorded in #!" of the units surveyed. up to . m thick. is sedimentation complicates the Field boundaries were used to delimit the survey interpretation of the results of both the side-by-side and units, and the research area is characterized by elds of the geophysical survey. e remote sensing survey also greatly varying sizes. In order to achieve su$cient spatial documents the strong morphological forces at work in resolution the survey units were never larger than % x the survey area (see below). m, but the majority of elds were much smaller. When e survey area was subdivided into zones according elds were larger than % x m, they were subdivided to existing toponyms: Ayios Konstantinos, Ayios Niko- into multiple units. In fact, the mean size of the survey laos, Kamaratiza, Moulki, Syriona, Merkouri, Chtiri, units is approximately % m . e m limit was deter- Zogeri, Dragatsoula, Palaiochori, Tragana-Dourvationa, mined by the size of the team and the spacing of the eld Lakkos, Valtos and Ayios Ioannis (Fig. ). Supported by walkers (see below). When elds where shorter than local knowledge, natural and cultural features, such as m, a smaller area was surveyed with fewer people, with changing elevations and roads, were used to de ne the # eld walkers along a # m line and so on (Fig. ). boundaries of the zones. Initially, the ambition of the campaign was focused on the area immediately north Two approaches to the surveying were employed: of Asopos and east of the plateau of Hellenistic Sikyon, where the emergency excavations of the Archaeological . A fully quantitative method consisting of intensive Service and the Archaeological Society at Athens have survey with eld walkers spaced at m intervals.
Given et al. &a–b; Bilde, Aema & Winther-Jacobsen ; Winther-Jacobsen . See also Bekker-Nielsen & Winther-Jacobsen, this volume. Extensive literature on the issues of planning a survey is referred to in these studies. 307 PROCEEDINGS OF THE DANISH INSTITUTE AT ATHENS ∙ VOL UME VIII
Fig. . Archaeological surveying on the plain (Photo: Kristina Winther-Jacobsen).
According to this method, the eld walkers cross the Architectural fragments and remains of structures, survey unit, collecting all nds larger than a thumbnail as well as some unquantied ceramic assemblages, were (a so-called total collection) in a m transect line, recorded as Places of Special Interest with coordinates. thereby producing a quantitative sample from a e nds were recorded according to the chronoty- coverage of the total surface. pological system, which entails creating a hierarchical . In areas of signicantly high density of nds we em- classication according to fabric, manufacture, surface ployed a qualitative survey method, collecting dia- treatment, function and period. ! e advantage of the gnostic sherds over the entire surface aer the sys- chronotypological system is that it facilitates the map - tematic, intensive survey. ping of nds’ densities quantitatively according to dif- ferent periods. Chronotypes range from very precisely As an experiment we developed a new method for elds dated, well-researched types of poery such as Tableware , with poor visibility, which involved raking the m tran- Bell-crater , Handle , Classical period , which would be ab- sect lines. e raking produced conditions of visi- breviated TWBCH-Cl. At the opposite range are generic bility, allowing us to collect all the nds from of the chronotypes consisting of nds lumped together based surface. Of course the raking displaced the nds, but with on observations of broader physical characteristics. Such two people working together, one could dedicate their chronotypes may be assigned to multiple periods, e.g. the aention exclusively to looking for nds. Although the Mud stone group (Msg-), dened by a characteristic inclu - data produced by this method are quantitative, we will sion. e Mud stone group is an endemic group and more treat them separately in the analysis. research is required to date it and locate its exact prove-
308 ! Winther-Jacobsen ", #-". FREDERIKSEN ET AL. ∙ ‘FINDING OLD SIKYON’, 2015
Fig. . GIS map of the units surveyed and PO- SIs recorded in !"#$ with the zones indicated.
nance, but based on morphology the fabric was probably A total number of !.%* poery fragments and used to produce poery over an extended period of time. lithics, as well as "! architectural artefacts were collect- e advantage of the chronotypological system is that ed, washed, counted and described; the most important function is at the heart of the classication system, and specimens were drawn and photographed. A poery in- since we are mapping functions all nds are important. ventory was created, consisting of %" sherds a+er the rst No nds are discarded; all nds are analyzed and nally season. is inventory works as a reference collection of become part of the interpretation. the chronotypes for future seasons. For spatial mapping of the nds’ densities, the data All the data are entered into the database, but we have are exported from the Access database to a Geographical only made preliminary studies of the material, and a de- Information System (GIS) in order to create spatially co- tailed study of chronology awaits the * season. We herent density maps. For the density maps, total densities may, however, present the following preliminary obser- are extrapolated from the coverage, then multiplied vations. First of all the surface revealed far richer traces of by and divided by square metres. e project applies the buried past than we had dared to hope for, based on two ways of correcting for visibility: ) maps with extra- our knowledge of the geomorphology of the landscape polated visibilities, and ) maps with uncorrected vis- of Sikyon. e nds date from the Late Neolithic/Ear- ibility, where units in which visibility should aect the ly Bronze Age to the present day, but material from the densities are marked by a signature. Classical period is predominant. e density map including the poery of all the pe- riods is characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity Results (Fig. &). Even accounting for visibility, highly variable During the ! campaign we surveyed !" survey units densities have been recorded in adjoining elds, which covering an area of .# square km (Fig. %). Distribution may be interpreted in two ways: either the selement was according to zones is as follows: % SU in Ayios Konstan- not contiguous, or post-depositional disturbance has been tinos, # SU in Ayios Nikolaos, %! SU in Kamaratiza, highly heterogeneous. Densities over per square metre SU in Moulki, % SU in Syriona, &# SU in Merkouri, " were recorded in % of the units. e highest densities, SU in Chtiri, % SU in Zogeri, * SU in Dragatsoula, %" ! to *." sherds per square metre, which is approximately SU in Palaiochori, % SU in Tragana-Dourvationa, &% SU equivalent to the second highest category in the urban sur- in Lakkos, %! SU in Valtos and SU in Ayios Ioannis. vey on the Hellenistic plateau, where the plough zone is
Winther-Jacobsen , *-. 309 PROCEEDINGS OF THE DANISH INSTITUTE AT ATHENS ∙ VOL UME VIII
Fig. !. GIS raw density map with the zones indicated.
Fig. . GIS density map corrected for visibility with the zones indicated.
Fig. . GIS raw density map of Ayios Konstan- tinos, Ayios Nikolaos and Kamaratiza.
310 FREDERIKSEN ET AL. ∙ ‘FINDING OLD SIKYON’, 2015
relatively thin, were recorded in units. Due to the lack of continuity between the elds surveyed, we cannot at pres- ent say anything conclusive about the diusion of nds, whether it represents a contiguous paern or many sepa- rate selements. All the zones investigated yielded nds, although numbers dropped as we moved north towards Moulki and east towards Kiato, where modern activity is also more intense. e slopes immediately east of the pla - teau yielded the highest densities as well as the largest and best preserved fragments, indicating that the buried struc - tures from which the nds originate are well-preserved. Although this is an intensely farmed area, a few structures were even preserved in situ on the surface. In this area the nds date from the Bronze Age to the present day, but Fig. . Well at Ayios Konstantinos (Photo: Kristina Win- nds of the Classical period are ever predominant. ther-Jacobsen). e preliminary overview of the entire survey area appears to conrm existing theories on the location of the pre-Hellenistic city, based on emergency excavations. consist mainly of ashlar blocks, but capitals and bases of Elevated densities are recorded predominantly on the both the Doric and Ionic order were also recorded. second and third marine terraces directly north of Aso- pos. Towards the north this area includes Kamaratiza and Zogeri. e distribution within the area is not homogene- e individual zones ous, but densities of more than sherd per square metre Ayios Konstantinos is located on the southeastern slope are very rare outside this area. Correcting for visibilities of the Hellenistic plateau just below the rocky outcrop, does aen the data, but cannot explain the heterogeneity with the earliest selement remains of the area. From on its own (Fig. ). Apart from extending the areas of the current terrain it is obvious that the area consisted relatively higher densities in the individual zones, at this of multiple smaller terraces. As indicated above, Ayios poor chronological resolution the corrected visibilities Konstantinos is an area of high archaeological signi - do not seem to aect the overall distribution paern (see cance. Poery densities were generally high and Classical individual zones below). is is also the area where emer- period material made up a signicant proportion of the gency excavations have revealed architectural remains of recorded nds, and architecture has been found in as well habitation. Additionally, graves seem to line up along the as ex situ (Fig. !). ree wells/cisterns were identied at edge of the second marine terrace, which actually cuts the edge of Ayios Konstantinos close together (Fig. "). directly through the area with elevated densities. In the same area several looters’ pits revealed poery, as Places Of Special Interest (POSI) from consist well as fragments of polychrome pebble mosaics, though of remains of seven structures in situ, architectural no architectural remains were observed. In this area, pre- fragments and some poery assemblages (Fig. ). ree vious excavations revealed a pebble mosaic of the late wells/cisterns were identied at the edge of Ayios Kon- th –early # th century BC at a vineyard next to the chapel stantinos close together (see below). e other four of Ayios Konstantinos, and Vassilios Papathanasiou of structures are wall remains located at Ayios Konstanti- the Ephorate recorded the remains of a mosaic during nos, Chtiri and Kamaratiza. e architectural fragments works for establishing a pipeline close by. Finds densities
$ Lolos et al. ", $, g. . e highest was "- sherds per square metre. % e necessary discussion of the methodology of correcting for visibility and its potential is too complex for this report. Orlandos %%, -; Papathanasiou personal comment. For other mosaics’ fragments deriving from the plain without further specication of the exact nd spot, see Orlandos %!, $; Orlandos %", %#; Orlandos %#", %-!. 311 PROCEEDINGS OF THE DANISH INSTITUTE AT ATHENS ∙ VOL UME VIII
Fig. . Southeast view of Kamaratiza towards the Asopos om the Plateau (Photo: Kristina Winther-Jacobsen).
are high at Ayios Konstantinos, and there appears to be terized by high densities in general and there is a strong a general correlation between high nds densities and correlation between the high densities and architectural increased numbers of architectural fragments in several fragments, many of which derive from the Hellenistic city zones. Corrected densities seem to homogenize or aen wall. e corrected visibilities extend the area of relatively the distribution paern. high densities. e pre-Hellenistic element appears not to Ayios Nikolaos is a more homogeneous landscape, be as signicant among the nds in this area. In and apart from the northwestern corner, where it slopes up- the Ephorate conducted an excavation of a Roman wards towards the Hellenistic plateau. At the church of road leading to the Hellenistic plateau under the direction Ayios Nikolaos several spolia have been collected over of Athanasios Tsiogas. Burials of the same period and a the last few years by the Archaeological Service, but their cistern were found at the sides of the road. precise original contexts are unknown. In general, den- Moulki consists of two geological zones, a homoge- sities at Ayios Nikolaos are more homogeneous and the neous plateau below the Hellenistic plateau and a lower proportion of post-Classical material is higher compared ood plain along the southern bank of Helisson River. e to Ayios Konstantinos. e corrected visibilities extend visibility on the ood plain was generally too low to sur- the area of relatively high densities. ere are no recorded vey, while access to the higher plateau was restricted by the excavations at Ayios Nikolaos. modern selement of Moulki. Due to these restrictions Kamaratiza is located on the eastern slope of the the interpretation of the observed data is less secure, but Hellenistic plateau and like Ayios Konstantinos consists if observed tendencies are to be believed, nds appeared of multiple smaller terraces (Fig. ). e area is charac- to be dating mainly to post-Classical or even post-Antique
312 Tsiogas !; Papathanasiou & Maragoudaki !, . FREDERIKSEN ET AL. ∙ ‘FINDING OLD SIKYON’, 2015
Fig. . Southeast view of the lowest marine terrace !om Palaiochori (Photo: Giorgos Giannakopoulos). times. During emergency excavations, the Archaeological the structures recorded by the emergency excavations. Service recorded a water pipe, a small quarry and frag- Merkouri is located on the second marine terrace. e mentary structures, as well as a Late Archaic to Hellenistic highest densities are mainly associated with areas previ- roadside necropolis at the location of the tollbooth. Se- ously excavated by the Archaeological Service, e.g. in the veral burials of the th and rd centuries BC, pits opened in Kollias, Protopappas and Kostouros plots, which brought the smooth bedrock, have been excavated on the slope of to light a pebble mosaic of the th century BC and other plateau west of Moulki, in the area called Gkraves. Addi- fragmentary structures potentially interpreted as private tionally, on the southwestern border of Moulki in the Ka- houses and workshops. One survey unit in the southern rampetsos vineyard an old emergency excavation brought part proved particularly interesting. e topsoil has been to light another pebble mosaic, dated to c. BC. recently removed mechanically, and the highest density Syriona cuts across the second and third marine in the zone was recorded in this eld, clearly indicating terraces but generally the landscape is homogeneous, that the thickness of sedimentation is a signicant factor apart from the strip of elds adjacent to the north bank which needs to be explored. e preliminary study of the of Asopos. e old and the recent National Highway assemblages suggests that tablewares and cooking wares emergency excavations have brought to light a complex make up a signicant proportion. of domestic remains, oen with mosaics, workshops and Chtiri cuts across the second to third marine terrace technical works as well as graves, which span from the and is dominated by middle-range densities. In general, Early Geometric to the Classical period. e surface assemblages from Chtiri are more heterogeneous. Zogeri nds, however, appear less promising. is is probably is located on the third marine terrace, but generally nds due to the . m-thick layer of sedimentation covering are very similar to those at Chtiri. In Chtiri and Zogeri
Papathanasiou, personal communication . Orlandos !, "-; Orlandos !", !; Kasimi , #; Papathanasiou & Maragoudaki , #. Orlandos !", !; Lolos , "-. Charitonidis !#, ; Papathanasiou & Maragoudaki , , ". Krystalli !#, -; Krystalli Votsi !"; Papathanasiou , -. 313 PROCEEDINGS OF THE DANISH INSTITUTE AT ATHENS ∙ VOL UME VIII
Fig. . Geomagnetic survey in summer (Photo: Rune Frederiksen).
an extended necropolis dating from the Late Archaic to the Roman period has been excavated by the Archaeo- logical Service. Nonetheless, in both zones emergency excavations have revealed structures or even complexes of multiple structures of the Classical or Early Hellenistic period, preliminarily interpreted as private houses and workshops. Dragatsoula and Palaiochori are located on the se- cond and third marine terraces. Both zones, as well as the selement paerns, are dependent on the change in level. Generally assemblages are heterogeneous and densities in the middle to low range. e general drop- o in densities as we move from west to east is rst clearly observable in this area. At Dragatsoula, Vassilios Papathanasiou excavated a quarry of oolithic limestone, while Late Helladic and Classical necropoleis have been excavated at Palaiochori. Tragana-Dourvationa is located on the second marine Fig. . Parallel resistivity and seismic measurements in terrace and access is restricted by the modern homony- summer (Photo: Wolfgang Rabbel). mous selement. Generally, assemblages are heterogene- ous and densities are in the low range.
Krystalli !, !"-#; Krystalli Votsi ", !#; Krystalli Votsi $%&; Balla $%&; Papathanasiou – Maragoudaki $%&, $. Archive of the Ephorate of Corinth. Emergency excavations at Zarkotos, Papakyriakos and Kampardi plots. For the quarry, see Papathanasiou $%$, ##; Papathanasiou – Maragoudaki $%&, $#. For the necropoleis, see Orlandos &, $-"; Papathanasiou 314 $%$, #"-!; Papathanasiou $%&; Papathanasiou & Maragoudaki $%&, $; Anagnostopoulou & Kasimi $%", ""-!. FREDERIKSEN ET AL. ∙ ‘FINDING OLD SIKYON’, 2015
Fig. . Radar measurements in summer !"#$ (Photo: Rune Frederiksen).
Lakkos, Valtos and Ayios Ioannis are located on the spaces, etc.) of the pre-Hellenistic city of Sikyon. e lowest marine terrace, which is dominated by the modern primary method of the survey was extensive geomagnetic selement of Kiato (Fig. ). In this area the drop-o in mapping (Fig. !). In areas where the magnetic survey densities is remarkable, with many survey units without showed signicant anomalies, electrical resistivity, geora- any recorded nds. e exception is one survey unit at dar and seismic measurements were applied to gain more Valtos that has a very high density of nds. Trial trenches insight into the nature of these anomalies (Figs !!-!). that produced no nds were dug in a eld less than m Geomagnetic surveying is one of the classical geo- to the west, suggesting that the high density of the survey physical methods used in archaeological prospection unit is an isolated phenomenon, possibly a farmstead. e because it enables mapping of large areas very quickly, proportion of cooking wares appears to be signicant and depending on local conditions. For magnetic surveys the in terms of chronology the Roman element is noteworthy. contrast in magnetization between the cultural elements e area east of Lakkos, in the town of Kiato, is hypo- (e.g. remains of walls, streets or tombs) and the surround- thetically a strong candidate for the ancient harbour area. ing material is important. In case of a low contrast, objects e hypothesis is mostly based on the large Basilica of might not be detectable at greater depth. Another factor the th century AD and the adjacent Magoula hill, where regarding the penetration depth is the size of the object: three graves of uncertain date have been excavated by the the larger the object, the greater the penetration. Archaeological Service. Geoelectric surveying is one of a number of geophy- sical investigation methods which are able to deliver more detailed information than the magnetic data. e geo- Geophysical Prospection electric method measures the specic electric resistivity of the subsurface, which is aected mainly by porosity, Aim and methods water saturation and clay content of the soil. e main objective of the geophysical survey was to Georadar (GPR) is – conditions providing – like the discover remains (e.g. building structures, streets, open magnetic method very suitable for answering archaeolo-
For the Basilica, see Orlandos !"#; Orlandos ! $. 315 PROCEEDINGS OF THE DANISH INSTITUTE AT ATHENS ∙ VOL UME VIII
Fig. . General map of geophysical prospections in Old Sikyon, .
gical questions due to its excellent vertical resolution. A along a prole record the amplitude and return time of short high-frequency electromagnetic pulse is sent into the seismic waves. In general, dierentiation is made be- the subsurface and all its reections are recorded over a tween reection and refraction seismics, which dier in certain time (comparable to reection seismics). the congurations of shot points and geophones. In the seismic survey, mechanical (seismic) waves For topographical positioning, a local coordinate sys- are used to explore the underground. For near-surface tem was set up, which was later used by both teams for applications, waves are produced with a sledgehammer the stationing of their respective dierential GPS base 316 or a vibration device (‘shot’). Geophones positioned stations. FREDERIKSEN ET AL. ∙ ‘FINDING OLD SIKYON’, 2015
Results (Fig. ) obvious interpretation of this would be a crossroad. An al - In Syriona, a at area next to the rescue excavations was ternative interpretation is, however, possible: the anomaly used to test the dierent geophysical methods (Fig. ). may be caused by a mud-brick wall. A geoelectric prole e advantage of using this location for the tests was on the spot should be able to resolve this ambiguity, and that the depth of the cultural layer and the size of the rule out one of these two most likely options. South and expected buildings were known. In the magnetic map, southwest of this area, more anomalies point to a street the tests showed nothing but dark patches that coincided grid in approximately the same orientation. with the geoelectric anomalies. e geoelectric results In the eastern part of Area B (Chtiri), a broad double showed a zone of higher resistivity values in a depth magnetic maximum (B ) more than m in length with corresponding with the cultural layer (.- m). Due to high amplitudes runs slightly o this orientation from the the depth of m, the resolution was not as clear as if northwest to the southeast, and merges into one in its fur- the houses were lying within the rst metre under the ther progress, while the area around appears rather quiet surface. It is important to mention, however, that the in the magnetic map (Fig. ). Here, an electric prole orientations of the anomalies did match the direction was measured, which shows a m-wide and . m-high of the known house walls. block of high resistivity in a depth of c. . m. Perhaps it e whole survey area was subdivided into smaller can be connected to a wall, but further methods need to areas (Areas A–H), and only nd spots of potential im- be applied here to arrive at a correct interpretation. South portance will be reported on. In Area A, which is located of this, the magnetic map is characterized by a disrupted at Zogeri and Chtiri, the most prominent anomaly is a paern of a rather rectangular orientation, which could cross-like structure (A, Zogeri; see Fig. ), and the most point to a former building development in this area.
Fig. . Area next to the rescue excavations at the National Road: geomagnetic and geoelec- tric results. 317 PROCEEDINGS OF THE DANISH INSTITUTE AT ATHENS ∙ VOL UME VIII
to the new train track, might be connected to an ancient quarry, traces of which have been found nearby. In the western part of Area H (Merkouri), a magnetic maximum between two minima runs for around m roughly in an east–west direction (H , see Fig. ). At a lile bend to the north, the northern minimum separates from the other two anomalies. A geoelectric prole (E) is marked by a block of very high resistivity (over Ωm) at the place of the magnetic maximum (Fig. ). A seismic prole (S) likewise shows an anomaly, which has the shape of a ditch. e interpretation of these struc- tures, however, still requires more detailed investigation. It is not clear if these combined anomalies can be con- nected with a defensive system. e general picture points to a city centre close to the southeastern spur of the plateau, with extensions or suburbs and further peripheral structures in the extended area of the second marine terrace. ere are some can- Fig. . Possible crossroads (A) in geomagnetic results in didates for larger walls, which might mirror parts of the Zogeri. town’s defenses in its dierent phases.
Remote Sensing Archaeology in Sikyon Indications for the densest occupation are found in For the summer of , aention focused on a zone Area E, located in the zone of Ayios Konstantinos imme- slightly less than square km immediately below the diately to the east of the southernmost spur of the plateau. eastern plateau of the Hellenistic city (Fig. ). Results Here, the magnetic map shows many small-scale magnetic were based on a high-resolution multispectral (-band) anomalies. In comparison to other areas, these small-scale WorldView- image from April , as well as four anomalies do not appear to be caused by metal on the historical aerial photographs (, !, , ) and surface, but might be indicators of an ancient surface. an ASTER GDEM for digital elevations. Several continuous linear structures may be interpreted as e analysis shows that the landscape within and streets that form a roughly rectangular paern. Additional around the target has been altered by anthropogenic and geoelectric investigation applied in the same area (E) environmental factors since the middle of the th centu- was able to detect two parallel high-resistivity lineaments ry. One obvious and remarkable element is the change of which can be interpreted as walls (Fig. ). Moreover, a crops in the !s. In , elds are mostly void of trees narrow zone with a thickness of about m and resistivities and orchards, while by the !s, orchards predominate, of to Ωm in a depth of . to m could indicate and by the s the area was densely lled with trees, as the depth of the cultural layer in this area. In combination we know it today. e courses of small rivers and seasonal with the adjacent walls, it might also be the oor of a large streams were more evident in than they are now. building. Branches of the Asopos River appear to have impacted In the very south of Area F (F, Dragatsoula), where the southern and southeastern area of the target zone it overlaps with Area G, there is a trapezoidal anomaly more than is the case today. that is interesting due to the arrangement of maximum Remote sensing identied a large number of surface and minimum with the maximum always on the inside anomalies in the target zone that likely relate to palaeo- and the minimum always on the outside (see Fig. ). is channels. is was to be expected, since the area is still 318 structure on the edge of the second marine terrace, close quite hydrologically active. As such, there is an increased FREDERIKSEN ET AL. ∙ ‘FINDING OLD SIKYON’, 2015
Fig. . Long double magnetic maximum (B) and geoelectric prole (E) in Chtiri.
likelihood of soil erosion and/or alluvial sedimentation, and aerial remote sensing methodologies. To overcome which can oen aect the preservation of subsurface fea- this issue, the project aims to apply LiDAR (Light De - tures of archaeological interest and the ability of remote tection and Ranging) in the future, since it can identify sensing and geophysical methods to identify them. surface details regardless of vegetation and tree growth. Very few anomalies in the target appear to be from One rectilinear anomaly (c. x m) in Chtiri was iden- features other than palaeochannels (Fig. ), which may tied in the aerial photograph, but for most of its be explained by the density of trees and orchards that parts, this unfortunately now lies under the new National limit the identication of surface anomalies using satellite Road (Fig. ). A roughly circular anomaly of c. m in
Fig. . Geoelectric depth slice and depth proles (E !) of possible parallel walls in Agios Konstantinos. 319 PROCEEDINGS OF THE DANISH INSTITUTE AT ATHENS ∙ VOL UME VIII
Fig. !". Surface anomalies (mostly palaeochannels) iden- ti!ed #om the WordView- satellite image and its feature Fig. . Long magnetic maximum between two minima enhancement indices. (H) in Merkouri.
tually unchanged between the aerial photograph and the WorldView- satellite image. Internal divisions of some elds have been altered, but by and large the same boundaries have been retained since . An analysis of the alignments of modern eld boundaries in a km area around the target shows that a great majority of them cluster in narrow ranges with southwest–northeast ori- entations. e broader characteristics of eld boundary Fig. . Geoelectric depth pro!le E" and underground alignments in the Sikyonian coastal plain and the possi- model of seismic velocities (S") at the magnetic maximum ble relationship to Roman centuriation and/or an earlier (H) in Merkouri. Greek system of land division need to be explored more extensively in the future.
diameter was noted in Ayios Nikolaos and needs to be Conclusions further explored by geophysical prospection. e coastal plain of Vocha has long been recognized Combining the preliminary surface observations and the as a region where Roman centuriation still persists in the knowledge from previous emergency excavations, there morphology of modern eld boundaries. Two systems can be li!le doubt that the western part of Old Sikyon oc - have so far been identi ed: one related to the Roman col- cupied the east slopes of the Vasiliko plateau. e Asopos ony of Corinth founded by Caesar, and another related to River makes up the southern boundary, and the northern a second wave of colonization during the Flavian period. and eastern boundaries we hope to be able to locate more It is notable in this context that eld boundaries were vir- precisely in ".
320 Romano . FREDERIKSEN ET AL. ∙ ‘FINDING OLD SIKYON’, 2015
Fig. . Rectilinear surface anomaly identied om the aerial photograph, now for most parts lying under the Na- tional Road.
is is also supported by the geophysical investiga- RUNE FREDERIKSEN tions. Aer the prospection in , much work still re- Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek mains to be done in order to complement the obtained Dantes Plads , Copenhagen V data. Especially in the areas where we have gained infor- Denmark mation about the subsurface with the geomagnetic meth- [email protected] od, electric and seismic pro les have to be produced. e geoelectric and the magnetic data have to be combined, KONSTANTINOS KISSAS so that ideally a model can be created that ts all datasets. Ephorate of Antiquities of Corinth Moreover, extended geophysical investigation in elds Archaia Korinthos, not yet measured in will supply further information. Greece is will include, for example, the investigation of the [email protected] presumed harbour area of the town. Remote sensing in the target area entails dierent qual- GIORGOS GIANNAKOPOULOS ities of results. e fact that few subsurface features of pos- Ephorate of Antiquities of Corinth & sible archaeological value were identi ed with the above Danish Institute at Athens datasets does not necessarily mean that features will not be Archaia Korinthos, found with other methods, or even other datasets from dif - Greece ferent extraction dates. On the other hand, an interesting [email protected] outcome of remote sensing was the reconstruction of the palaeoenvironment within and around the target. At some VASSILIOS PAPATHANASIOU point in the past, since Antiquity, the region was heavily Ephorate of Antiquities of Corinth impacted by rivers and streams. Soil erosion and soil accu- Archaia Korinthos, mulation, and their likely inuence on the preservation of Greece any potential archaeological features, are important con- [email protected] siderations for future site exploration and interpretation. 321 PROCEEDINGS OF THE DANISH INSTITUTE AT ATHENS ∙ VOL UME VIII
JAMIESON DONATI HALD STÜMPEL Institute for Mediterranean Studies Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Melissinou and Nikephorou Foka , Institute for Geosciences Rethymno, Crete Oo-Hahn-Platz , Kiel Greece Germany [email protected] [email protected]
SILKE MÜTH THARINA RUSCH National Museum of Denmark Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Frederiksholms Kanal , Copenhagen K Institute for Geosciences Denmark Oo-Hahn-Platz , Kiel [email protected] Germany [email protected] WOLFGANG BBEL Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, KRISTINA WINTHERJACOBSEN Institute for Geosciences e Danish Institute at Athens Oo-Hahn-Platz , Kiel Herefondos , Athens Germany Greece [email protected] [email protected]/[email protected]
322 FREDERIKSEN ET AL. ∙ ‘FINDING OLD SIKYON’, 2015
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