EXCAVIONS HALAI J A N U A R Y 8-2 7, 2 0 1 8 I N S T R U C T O R : D R. J O H N K A R A V A S VOULA FIELD SCHOOL
EXCAVIONS HALAI COURSE DETAILS Dates : January Students who have a serious interest in archaeology Instructor: Dr. John Karavas are invited to come to Athens three weeks before the start of the semester to participate in the excavation of a site associated with Aixonidai Halai, one of the ancient municipalities on the coast of ancient Attica. The importance of Aixonides Halai This will be offered as a short, INTENSIVE course with a total of 22 classroom contact hours, 12 hours of lab- The importance of Aixonidai Halai, derived from its work and teaching plus 45 hours of supervised proximity to the city of Aixone (modern day Glyfada) participation on-site. The next excavation is scheduled and the valuable salt flats that existed along the coast. for January 8-27,. The site is located in the modern town of Voula, a coastal suburb some 20 kilometers from the center of Athens, known for its splendid sea-views and low pine Excavation Director & Lecturer hills. The site, near the church of Aghios Nikolaos The excavation will be directed by archaeologist Pallon, is in close proximity to the sea and close to the Eftychia Lygouri and her colleagues Maria Giamalidi recently discovered Agora. Excavated for the first time and Anna Maria Anagnostopoulou of the Piraeus in January 2008 by CYA students under the direction Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities. The of the Greek Archeological Service, it contains ruins of course lectures will be conducted by Dr. Karavas, a large ancient blocks, suggesting the presence of a CYA professor and the Director of excavations at the large and significant public building. Excavations to sites of Halmyris and Gratiana date have unearthed material from the Byzantine, (Hellenistic/Roman/Byzantine military and civilian Roman, Hellenistic and Classical periods, including a sites). He is also the Co-director of excavations at sarcophagus, three Roman kilns and a marble lion of Drajna de Sus (an early Roman site/legionary fort). as yet unknown date or purpose. CYA cyathens.org p.01 EXCAVIONS Voula Field School
EXCAVIONS In order to take part in the excavation, students should plan to arrive on Friday, January 5. An orientation is scheduled for the evening of Friday and classes begin on Monday, January 8. Students will be expected to devote ten full days to the excavation, and to attend lectures on the history of the ancient municipality of Aixonidai excavations, and on fieldwork methodology. They will also devote four days on lab-work, dealing primarily with the study and interpretation of the material cultural through artifact processing and preservation. Application & Payment apply and submit payment can be found on our website at: www.cyathens.org/winter-application Fees Students already enrolled at CYA for the Spring Tuition: $950 semester need not submit a Winter Session Housing & Administrative Fees: $250 application. Instead, they should contact the Vice Total Course Fees: $1200 President for Academic Affairs, Ms. Theoni Scourta, Students who are enrolled in CYA's spring semester need only pay the tuition fee of $950. at tscourta@dikemes.edu.gr as soon as possible. Payment of $950 must be made within four days of receiving an email from Ms. Scourta The course fees cover the cost of the archaeological fieldwork, lectures, visits to related archaeological sites and housing in CYA apartments. Students will be responsible for their own food and will use public transportation (metro/buses) between the center of Athens, where CYA apartments are located, and the excavation site in Voula, or the other sites. The commute to the site of Voula takes approximately 40 acknowledging their participation. Payment will NOT be accepted without prior sign-up email to tscourta@dikemes.edu.gr. Space is limited and will be assigned in the order that payment is received. Refund Policy No refunds will be given if a student withdraws after October 14. minutes each way. Weekends will be free. CYA cyathens.org p.02 The application form and instructions on how to cataloging as well as artifact restoration and Halai, on what has been learned from previous Participation will require a serious commitment: Schedule
The ancient Agora and related sites The complex is defined to the east and south by Excavations have identified two main settlements and excavations unearthed three female figurines (one the temple of Apollo Zostiras, a major religious center depicts a kourotrofos, or nursing deity, and another a located on the modern site of Laimos in Vouliagmeni, pregnant woman), 40 bronze coins and 2 silver ones, next to Voula. The acropolis has been traced (but not 42 lead weights and 45 weaving weights. The yet excavated) on a hill, not far from the recently discovery of the coins is very important for the history discovered market, commanding panoramic views of of the area, as it is the first time that such a large the sea-routes of the Saronic Gulf and the road that quantity of coins comes to light; what is more, it connected the area with the neighboring attests to the public character of the building municipalities of Anargyrounton and Aixone, in the complex. Another significant find is a bronze plate modern towns of Vari and Glyfada. The ancient with the inscription ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙ ΑΛΑΕ, which testifies to cemetery of the municipality has been excavated at the area s identification with the ancient municipality the site of Pigadakia where sarcophagi and of Aixonides Halai. The discovery of this building cremations have been found. In 2006 another burial complex -- most probably the ancient market -- is also enclosure was discovered with six sarcophagi, six significant because, until now, only private complexes cremations and six child-burials in pots. The market had been found in the area. It provides a more (agora) of the ancient municipality of Aixonidai Halai complete picture of the way ancient municipalities came to light in 2005 during a rescue excavation of a were organized. Their Agora was a place of gathering plot of land that the Sklavenitis Company, a and socializing, of economic transactions and of supermarket chain, intended to build on. The religious activity. Following the rescue excavation, the excavation was conducted by archaeologists Yannos ancient agora, comprising only 1,500 square meters Kourayos and Mary Giamalidi and a six-person team of the 5,500 square meter plot, remains visible and under the auspices of the Greek Archaeological intact. Service, which is responsible for investigating the existence of archaeological finds before any new construction can take place. The team discovered a complex dating to the 5th-4th century B.C.E. built around an open courtyard with a cistern cut into the natural bedrock. Twelve rooms are situated around the courtyard, two of which are divided into two inner spaces. Another room has a prodomos (fore-court) and a sekos (main cella), suggesting a small shrine. A smaller square room with many pots in situ could have served as the temple s kitchen. To the south of the temple the excavations revealed a square altar enclosed by a semicircular construction (peribolos). North of the main building stands a rectangular peribolos measuring 25x25 meters. CYA cyathens.org p.03 monumental mouth that measures 2x2 meters. The in the Athenian parliament with six members. These walls also protect a well of fine masonry with a situated outside the city of Athens and it participated strong protecting walls built of huge local stones. Aixonidai Halai was one of the ancient municipalities EXCAVIONS OTHER DISCOVERIES IN VOULA
During the 2017 season, the CYA team, under the supervision of Dr. E. Lygouri, Ms. M. Giamalidi and Dr. between the Late Roman and Early/Mid Byzantine periods; without doubt, highlighting the importance of this particular area in the social and religious life of the ancient Athenians and ascertaining its long standing and uninterrupted occupation throughout antiquity. The session will continue to focus in the area of the Agora and will hopefully contribute to archaeological context. At the same time, preliminary excavations will extend to a newly discovered complex of individual cist tombs, adjacent to the Christian basilica, suggesting the existence of a late Roman/Early Byzantine cemetery in the area. Affairs, at tscourta@dikemes.edu.gr For more information or to apply please contact: Ms. Theoni Scourta, Vice President of Academic improving our understanding of the configuration and orientation of the remaining edifices within their remains of an 8th century Christian basilica (chapel) and yielding a plethora of material finds datable John Karavas continued the scientific investigation of the central section of the Agora, uncovering the EXCAVIONS THE 2017 SEASON CYA cyathens.org p.04