Elis 1969 : the Peneios Valley rescue excavation project : British School at Athens survey 1967 and rescue excavations at Kostoureika and Keramidia 1969

In the 1960s a great new barrier dam was built across the Peneios Valley in Elis in the N.W. Peloponnese to create an artificial lake for irrigation purposes. In 1967 the Greek Archaeological Service organised a preliminary survey of the areas to be affected and also asked all the Foreign Archaeological Schools to assist and allocated specific sections to each. The British School at Athens sent a small team in late 1967 to survey part of the south-west fringes of the area to be flooded; this team identified many sites and opened test-trenches at six of them. In 1969 further work was undertaken in that area for the British School: a small team from Birmingham University and from Bangor undertook excavations at two of the identified sites, ‘Kostoureika’ and ‘Keramidia’. This account describes the results in detail. ‘Kostoureika’, identified as a likely Hellenistic ‘villa’ proved structurally disappointing (the 1967 test-trench had located the only surviving wall), but revealed a deposit of Early Helladic pottery, which supplements very usefully evidence for early occupation in the north-west Peloponnese. ‘Keramidia’ proved to be a site occupied, at least at times, from the Hellenistic to the late Roman imperial period. Cover 1 Copyright information 2 Contents 3 List of Figures 5 Foreword 8 Acknowledgements 9 Introduction 11 British School at Athens Survey, 1967 12 British School at Athens Excavations, 1969 13 Kostoureika 15 Kostoureika I 15 Kostoureika II 21 Kostoureika III 25 Kostoureika IV 25 Finds 26 Fig.1 Map of the Peneios Valley area, showing the position of the Peneios river dam, and naming the villages, and noting the numbered sites of the B.S.A.’s 1967 Survey Area (with inset map of N.W. Elis, marking Pa = Patras, E = Ancient Elis, Py = Elean Py 16 Fig.2 Map of Peneios Valley area, showing the rising lake as in 1969, naming the villages again, and marking the Kostoureika and Keramidia sites (with inset map of the lake as eventually planned). 17 Fig.3 A general view NW at Easter 1969 over the Kostoureika (KTR) site, showing the excavated remnant of (‘Hellenistic’) walling at lower left centre and, across the rising waters of the lake, a distant view of the Peneios barrage dam, visible as a white 18 Fig.4 A general view at Easter 1969, southwards from the ‘farmhouse ridge’ towards the Kostoureika site (arrowed). 18 Fig.5 A view, obliquely W to E, across Kostoureika Trench I (KTR I) and the remnant of (‘Hellenistic’) walling towards the ruined farm building or hut, at Easter 1969. 19 Fig.6 A view, obliquely E to W, across Kostoureika Trenches I and II (KTR I, II), over the remnant of surviving walling. Trench KTR II is seen as a paler strip to the right of the standing tree. 20 Fig.7 Kostoureika: general plan of the excavation area (KTR I and II), with sections. 21 Fig.8 Kostoureika: detailed plan of Trench I (KTR I); below, shaped stones found in KTR I, with photo view of the same. 22 Fig.9 Kostoureika: detailed plan of Trench II (KTR II), with sections below. 23 Fig.10 Kostoureika: Trenches III and IV (KTR III, IV); plan and sections. 24 Keramidia 27 Keramidia I and II 27 Trial Trenches 44 Conclusions 47 Finds 50 ‘Keramidia Hill’ 50 Conclusions 54 Finds 55 ‘Kostoureika Hut’ 56 ‘Farmhouse Ridge’ 57 Fig.11 Keramidia: general area plan of excavations, showing the main trenches (KER I and II), and trial trenches to west, beyond the ditch-line, and trials to north-east (A, B), and ‘wooded ridge’ and ‘conical hill’ to south-west. 28 Fig.12 Keramidia: a general view, at Easter 1969, northwards over the excavation (KER I), from the ‘conical hill’. 28 Fig.13 Keramidia: a general view from the ‘conical hill’ over the site in Summer 1969, with trenches KER I and KER II opened up. 29 Fig.14 Keramidia: a schematic plan of Trenches I and II (KER I, II), with areas and walls lettered for identification as in the text (P = pithos). 30 Fig.15 Keramidia: Trench I (KER I), a plan of the surviving walls, with areas and walls lettered for identification ( P = pithos). 32 Fig.16 Keramidia: Trench II (KER II), a plan of the surviving walls, with areas and walls lettered for identification (P = pithos). 33 Fig.17 A view, north to south, over the western part of the Keramidia site (KER II), with areas marked as on plans, towards the col between the ‘conical hill’ and the ‘wooded ridge’. 34 Fig.18 A view, north to south, over the central part of the Keramidia site (KER II, KER I), with areas marked as on plans, towards the rise of the ‘wooded ridge’. 34 Fig.19 A view, north to south, over the central and eastern parts of the Keramidia site (KER I), with areas marked as on plans, towards the ‘wooded ridge’. 35 Fig.20 A view, north to south, over Keramidia Trench I (KER I), with areas marked as on plans, showing the ‘plastered’ floor F at rear. 35 Fig.21 A view, north to south, over the eastern part of the Keramidia site (KER I), with areas marked as on plans, and showing the remnants of an embedded pithos (P1) in foreground, and ‘floor F’ and cistern or ‘vat 2’ behind. 36 Fig.22 A view, east to west, of the west end of Trench I (KER I) showing the plastered floor B and its built-up eastern edge. 37 Fig.23 A view, (from NE) into the sunken cistern (‘Vat 1’) at the west edge of Trench I (KER I), showing its west wall of tiles and plaster, heavily robbed. 38 Fig.24 Area P in Trench II (KER II) with its ‘floor’ of trampled earth, and tile fragments, and the base of an embedded pithos (P3). 43 Fig.25 A close-up view of the ovoid feature lined with tile fragments, north of area P in Trench II (KER II), viewed from the N with wall w on right. 44 Fig.26 An overview, east to west, of the south half of Trench II (KER II), with areas Q, P, and M marked as on the plans. 45 Fig.27 An overview, east to west, of the more northerly parts of Trench II (KER II), towards Trench I (KER I) with areas marked as on plans. 45 Fig.28 A view, east to west, over Trench I (KER I), along the line of wall a, showing different degrees of wall-robbing. 46 Fig.29 Keramidia: the excavated area (KER I and II), a tentatively restored plan, with areas lettered for identification. 49 Fig.30 ‘Keramidia Hill’: a plan and section of surviving features, with a ‘restored plan’ inset at top left. 51 Fig.31 Kostoureika: above, panoramic view (from the east) of the Kostoureika site (KTR) and nearby hut (H) and the ‘farmhouse ridge’ with buildings (A, B, C), and the lake, and Peneios Dam and Vigla beyond; below, plan and elevations of the KTR Hut (H) a 57 Fig.32 Kostoureika: ‘Farmhouse Ridge’, Farm building B, plan and elevations. 59 Fig.33 Kostoureika: ‘Farmhouse Ridge’, Farm building B, a composite view, from the north-west (at Easter 1969). 60 Fig.34 Kostoureika: ‘Farmhouse Ridge’, Farm building C, plan and elevations, with general plan of buildings and adjoining fenced enclosure, at half-scale, at top. 62 Fig.35 Kostoureika: ‘Farmhouse Ridge’, Farm building C, a view from the N, from the mound at its rear (at Easter 1969). 63 Fig.36 Kostoureika: ‘Farmhouse Ridge’, drawn views of Farm buildings B and C, from different viewpoints. 64 Catalogues of Finds 66 Introduction 66 Catalogue I 70 Kostoureika Early Helladic (KTR EH) 70 The Archaeological Evidence: Elis in the Early Helladic Period 70 KTR EH Small Finds (KTR EH SF) 71 KTR EH Pottery 72 Early Helladic Pottery - Classification 72 Wares, Shapes and Decoration 73 CHRONOLOGY 94 CONCLUSIONS 97 Fig.37 Kostoureika: Early Helladic ‘Small Finds’. 72 Fig.38 Kostoureika: Early Helladic II pottery, coarse ware, cat. nos. 1 – 23. 74 Total number of sherds, 793. 75 diagram 1. Percentage representation of wares from Kostoureika. 75 Fig.39 Kostoureika: Early Helladic II pottery, coarse ware, cat. nos. 27 – 60. 78 Fig.40 Kostoureika: Early Helladic II pottery, coarse ware, urfirnis ware, and fine ware, cat. nos. 61 – 96. 87 diagram 2. Percentage of pottery types in each ware (only featured sherds are included). 95 Catalogue II 98 Kostoureika Hellenistic (KTR H) 98 KTR H Small Finds (KTR H SF) 98 KTR I + II H Pottery 100 Decorated Relief and Painted Ware (P1 – 7) (fig. 42). 100 Peg-Leg Cups (Elean Beakers) (P8 - 27) (fig. 43). 104 Glazed / Semi-Glazed Plates, Saucers, Shallow Bowls (P29-41) (fig. 44). 108 Other Glazed And Semi-Glazed Forms (P42-P53) (fig. 45). 111 Plain Kitchen And Storage Vessels 115 Amphorae / Pitchers (P61–P70) (fig. 47). 117 Various Plain Ware Pots (P71–P86) (figs 48, 49). 120 Cooking Ware (P87–P109) (figs 49 – 51). 122 Grill Fragments (P101–P109) (fig. 51). 127 Fig.41 Kostoureika: Hellenistic ‘Small Finds’, nos. 2 – 11: 2 – 3 iron nails; 4 lead weight; 5 terracotta disc; 6 – 9 terracotta spools; 10 – 11 terracotta loomweights. 99 Fig.42 Kostoureika: Hellenistic pottery, nos. 1 – 7: 1 – 3 ‘Megarian’ bowls, 4 – 5 decorated sherds; 6 lamps; 7 skyphoi. 101 Fig.43 Kostoureika: Hellenistic pottery, nos. 8 – 28 ‘Elean beakers’; 8 – 24 base frags; 25 – 26 rim, handle and wall frags, with 28 thumbnail sketches of Elean beakers at Olympia: top row of 3rd cent. B.C. middle row of 2nd cent. B.C., and bottom row o 105 Fig.44 Kostoureika: Hellenistic pottery, nos. 29 - 41, plates and shallow bowls, with thumbnail sketches of similar dishes at Olympia. 109 Fig.45 Kostoureika: Hellenistic pottery, nos. 42 – 53, with a thumbnail sketch of a parallel at Olympia. 112 Fig.46 Kostoureika: Hellenistic pottery, nos. 54 – 60; jugs, jars and amphorae, rim and handle frags. 114 Fig.47 Kostoureika: Hellenistic pottery, nos. 61 – 70, pitchers and amphorae, with two thumbnail sketches of parallels at Olympia museum. 116 Fig.48 Kostoureika: Hellenistic pottery, nos. 71 – 84. 118 Fig.49 Kostoureika: Hellenistic pottery, nos. 85 – 88: above, large bowls; below, cooking ware, with thumbnail sketches of deep cooking pots at Olympia Museum. 119 Fig.50 Kostoureika: Hellenistic pottery, nos. 89 – 100: cooking ware, with thumbnail sketches of parallels at Olympia. 123 Fig.51 Kostoureika: Hellenistic pottery, nos. 101 – 109: cooking grill frags, with a sketch of a typical rectangular grill. 124 Catalogue III : Kostoureika III and IV 128 (Cat. Nos. 1 – 11) (fig. 52) 128 Fig.52 Kostoureika: Trenches III and IV pottery frags, nos. 1 – 11. 129 Catalogue IV: Keramidia 131 Coins (fig. 53). 131 Small Finds 138 Lead Items 141 Glassware 142 Terracotta 144 Slag 145 Stone 145 Tiles 146 Pottery 146 Decorated Ware (fig. 56). 146 Fine Wares 146 Black-glaze Ware 148 ‘Elean Beakers’ (Peg-leg Cups’) (fig. 57). 150 Various bg. shapes. 152 Handle frs, of various types, of which a selection illustrated and catalogued. 154 Lamps (fig. 58). 155 Red Fabric Ware (African Red Slip Ware) (fig. 59). 157 Groups of Sherds from KER I, Room F (fig. 60). 160 Small Bowls of Hellenistic Date (fig. 60). 162 Lekanai and Bowls, rim frs: P.82–P.95 (fig. 61) 163 Flasks, Jugs, Pitchers, Amphorae: rim, upper body and handle fragments, (fig. 62). 166 Amphorae and Pitchers: rim, body, handle and base fragments: (fig. 63). 170 Jugs, Pitchers, Amphorae, Storage Amphorae: Base Fragments (fig. 63). 173 Lids (fig. 64) 176 Cookpots (figs. 64, 65). 177 Pithoi and Storage Tubs: P.195 – P.204 (fig. 66). 185 Storage Tubs (fig. 67). 188 Tiles (fig. 67). 188 Fig.53 Keramidia: Trenches I and II (KER I and KER II): coins, nos. 1 – 15. 132 Fig.54 Keramidia: KER I and II: Small Finds, nos. 1 – 35. 139 Fig.55 Keramidia: KER I and II: Small Finds, nos. 36 – 49, terracotta objects. 140 Fig.56 Keramidia: pottery, nos. 1 – 22, with thumbnail sketches of Elean beakers. 147 Fig.57 Keramidia: pottery, nos. 23 – 46: fine wares, base, wall and handle frags. 151 Fig.58 Keramidia: pottery, nos. 47 – 60: lamp frags. 155 Fig.59 Keramidia: pottery, nos. 61 – 70: red fabric wares, with thumbnail sketches of parallels at Olympia 158 Fig.60 Keramidia: pottery, nos. 71 – 81: above, a group from KER I, Room F; below, Hellenistic small bowls. 161 Fig.61 Keramidia: pottery, nos. 82 – 98: lekanai, bowls, wide dishes, with thumbnail sketches of a Hellenistic bowl on left, and Roman bowl on right. 164 Fig.62 Keramidia: pottery, nos. 99 – 120: plain wares: flasks, jugs, pitchers, amphorae: rim, handle and upper body frags 167 Fig.63 Keramidia: pottery, nos. 121 – 150: amphorae, pitchers, jugs and various forms: rim, body and handle frags. 171 Fig.64 Keramidia: pottery, nos. 151 – 172: cooking ware: lids and cookpots. 177 Fig.65 Keramidia: pottery, nos. 173 – 194: cooking wares: cookpots and cooking grills 178 Fig.66 Keramidia: pottery, nos. 195 – 204: pithoi. 186 Fig.67 Keramidia: various finds, nos. 205 – 211: tubs and tiles: 206 – 207, storage tubs; 208, grindstone frag.; 209, ‘Corinthian-type’ tile frag.; 210, ‘Laconian-type’ tile frag.; 211, louter. 189 Catalogue V 191 ‘Keramidia Hill’ (KER.HILL / KH) (fig. 68) 191 Fig.68 ‘Keramidia Hill’ site: finds, nos. 1 – 16. 192 Greece,Athens,Excavation,1969,Peneios Valley,Kostoureika,Keramidia,Barrier Dam