Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome
This paper presents the preliminary results from the 2022 fieldwork of the Palamas Archaeological... more This paper presents the preliminary results from the 2022 fieldwork of the Palamas Archaeological Project, an ongoing Greek–Swedish collaboration in the region of Karditsa, Thessaly. Working over the course of two separate field seasons, the project team conducted aerial, architectural, fieldwalking, and geophysical surveys at a number of sites within the survey area, including at the important multi-phase fortified settlements at Metamorfosi and Vlochos. Limited excavations were also conducted at the latter site, producing new evidence for the Hellenistic and Early Byzantine phases of the ancient city, including a probable cemetery. The work continues to add to the knowledge of the archaeology of the region, highlighting the long and dynamic history of human habitation in western Thessaly.
Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome, 2022
This paper presents preliminary results of the Palamas Archaeological Project relating to the Lat... more This paper presents preliminary results of the Palamas Archaeological Project relating to the Late Roman and Early Byzantine periods in the study area in western Thessaly, Greece. These periods are comparatively understudied in Thessaly, and the aim of this work is to highlight the extent of the material and the potential of investigating the archaeology of Late Antiquity in the region. The work was centred on excavations and survey at the site at Vlochos, alongside architectural survey at the neighbouring site on Kourtikiano hill. The paper also presents studies into Late Roman and Early Byzantine material found during cleaning at Vlochos. Additionally, an unpublished inscription spoliated in a church in nearby Palamas is presented. The results show a dynamic and detailed range of Late Antique activity in the area, adding significantly to our understanding of the post-Classical habitations on the western Thessalian plain.
Through the analysis of the EIA Mound 36 at Voulokalyva in Thessaly we lay out the complexities i... more Through the analysis of the EIA Mound 36 at Voulokalyva in Thessaly we lay out the complexities involved in interpreting a context with cremated bones either as a primary cremation area or as a secondary deposition. We first provide comparative evidence from sites of this period from Greece to allow for correlations between contextual parameters and osseous characteristics to emerge and inform about the burial practice. We then contrast this evidence to finds from Mound 36 to demonstrate that its use was multifaceted and lasted for an extended period of time, most likely serving as a place of reverence and ancestral cult. Attention is drawn to similarities between Voulokalyva and Lefkandi, for which a complex burial program has also been suggested. The mound comprises inhumations and cremations of adults and infants, although cremated infant remains were found only sporadically among the cremated remains of more mature individuals. Brandbestattungen von der mittleren Donau bis zur Ä...
The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, ... more The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-pro t purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full DRO policy for further details.
Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome, 2020
The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation o... more The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation of the remains of the ancient urban site at Vlochos in western Thessaly, Greece. Employing a wide array of non-invasive methods, the project succeeded in completely mapping the visible remains, which had previously not been systematically investigated. The extensive remains of multi-period urban fortifications, a Classical-Hellenistic city, a Roman town, and a Late Antique fortress were identified, evidence of the long history of habitation on this site. Since comparatively little fieldwork has been conducted in the region, the results significantly increase our knowledge of the history and archaeology of Thessaly.
This article presents evidence of population movements in Thessaly, Greece, during the Early Iron... more This article presents evidence of population movements in Thessaly, Greece, during the Early Iron Age (Protogeometric period, eleventh–ninth centuriesbc). The method we employed to detect non-local individuals is strontium isotope analysis (87Sr/86Sr) of tooth enamel integrated with the contextual analysis of mortuary practices and osteological analysis of the skeletal assemblage. During the Protogeometric period, social and cultural transformations occurred while society was recovering from the disintegration of the Mycenaean civilization (twelfth centurybc). The analysis of the cemeteries of Voulokaliva, Chloe, and Pharsala, located in southern Thessaly, showed that non-local individuals integrated in the communities we focused on and contributed to the observed diversity in burial practices and to the developments in the formation of a social organization.
This paper integrates the isotopic results on dietary variation with an in-depth contextual analy... more This paper integrates the isotopic results on dietary variation with an in-depth contextual analysis of mortuary data from two Early Iron Age cemeteries in Halos, Thessaly, central Greece. While the diet was mainly based on C 3 plant and animal protein, there is evidence for the consumption of C 4 resources (millet) by a few females, but also increased meat consumption by some individuals, sometimes furnished with weapons or other wealthy offerings. In addition, infants, children and adults in the two cemeteries show a difference in δ 15 N values. The analysis therefore reveals possible emerging differentiation between age, sex and possibly status groups in a crucial period of Greek prehistory, after the disintegration of the Mycenaean palatial societies and the ensuing period of regression.
Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome
This paper presents preliminary results of the Palamas Archaeological Project relating to the Lat... more This paper presents preliminary results of the Palamas Archaeological Project relating to the Late Roman and Early Byzantine periods in the study area in western Thessaly, Greece. These periods are comparatively understudied in Thessaly, and the aim of this work is to highlight the extent of the material and the potential of investigating the archaeology of Late Antiquity in the region. The work was centred on excavations and survey at the site at Vlochos, alongside architectural survey at the neighbouring site on Kourtikiano hill. The paper also presents studies into Late Roman and Early Byzantine material found during cleaning at Vlochos. Additionally, an unpublished inscription spoliated in a church in nearby Palamas is presented. The results show a dynamic and detailed range of Late Antique activity in the area, adding significantly to our understanding of the post-Classical habitations on the western Thessalian plain.
The castration of most male animals seems to have been the rule in ancient Greece when rearing ca... more The castration of most male animals seems to have been the rule in ancient Greece when rearing cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs; only very few adult males are needed for breeding purposes and flocks of bulls, rams, billy-goats and boars are difficult to keep, since they are too aggressive. Castrated males yield more and fattier meat, and, in the case of sheep, more wool. Still, sacred laws and sacrificial calendars stipulate the sacrifice of uncastrated victims, and vase-paintings frequently represent bulls, rams and billy-goats in ritual contexts. This paper will discuss the role of uncastrated male animals in Greek cult in the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods, both from a religious and an agricultural perspective. Of particular interest are the relations between the practical, economic reality and the theological perception of sacrifice. These issues will be explored using epigraphical, literary, iconographical and zooarchaeological evidence.*
Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome
This paper presents a short summary of archaeological operations carried out in 2020 in the area ... more This paper presents a short summary of archaeological operations carried out in 2020 in the area of the modern village of Vlochos on the western Thessalian plain, Greece, as part of the Palamas Archaeological Project (PAP). Initially, the project aimed to conduct a significant campaign of fieldwork during the 2020 season, but operations were severely scaled back by limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, only a small-scale campaign, aimed at method testing and exploratory investigation, could be carried out. Fieldwork included an evaluation of complimentary geophysical techniques, cleaning operations, and oral history enquiries. The work—despite its limitations—highlighted the value of using multiple geophysical techniques, as well as proving the importance of a systematic cleaning of the site. Overall, the first season of PAP highlighted the productivity of the research project and will act as a strong foundation for the forthcoming field seasons.
The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation o... more The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation of the remains of the ancient urban site at Vlochos in western Thessaly, Greece. Employing a wide array of noninvasive methods, the project succeeded in completely mapping the visible remains, which had previously not been systematically investigated. The extensive remains of multi-period urban fortifications, a Classical- Hellenistic city, a Roman town, and a Late Antique fortress were identified, evidence of the long history of habitation on this site. Since comparatively little fieldwork has been conducted in the region, the results significantly increase our knowledge of the history and archaeology of Thessaly.
Opuscula Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome, 2020
The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation o... more The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation of the remains of the ancient urban site at Vlochos in western Thessaly, Greece. Employing a wide array of non-invasive methods, the project succeeded in completely mapping the visible remains, which had previously not been systematically investigated. The extensive remains of multi-period urban fortifications, a Classical-Hellenistic city, a Roman town, and a Late Antique fortress were identified, evidence of the long history of habitation on this site. Since comparatively little fieldwork has been conducted in the region, the results significantly increase our knowledge of the history and archaeology of Thessaly.
This article presents evidence of population movements in Thessaly, Greece, during the Early Iron... more This article presents evidence of population movements in Thessaly, Greece, during the Early Iron Age (Protogeometric period, eleventh–ninth centuries BC). The method we employed to detect non-local individuals is strontium isotope analysis (87Sr/86Sr) of tooth enamel integrated with the contextual analysis of mortuary practices and osteological analysis of the skeletal assemblage. During the Protogeometric period, social and cultural transformations occurred while society was recovering from the disintegration of the Mycenaean civilization (twelfth century BC). The analysis of the cemeteries of Voulokaliva, Chloe, and Pharsala, located in southern Thessaly, showed that non-local individuals integrated in the communities we focused on and contributed to the observed diversity in burial practices and to the developments in the formation of a social organization.
In: Michaela Lochner and Florian Ruppenstein (eds.) Cremation Burials in the Region between the Middle Danube and the Aegean, 1300‒750 B.C., ÖAW (Vienna 2010), 2013
Through the analysis of the EIA Mound 36 at Voulokalyva
in Thessaly we lay out the complexities i... more Through the analysis of the EIA Mound 36 at Voulokalyva in Thessaly we lay out the complexities involved in interpreting a context with cremated bones either as a primary cremation area or as a secondary deposition. We first provide comparative evidence from sites of this period from Greece to allow for correlations between contextual parameters and osseous characteristics to emerge and inform about the burial practice. We then contrast this evidence to finds from Mound 36 to demonstrate that its use was multifaceted and lasted for an extended period of time, most likely serving as a place of reverence and ancestral cult. Attention is drawn to similarities between Voulokalyva and Lefkandi, for which a complex burial program has also been suggested. The mound comprises inhumations and cremations of adults and infants, although cremated infant remains were found only sporadically among the cremated remains of more mature individuals.
This paper integrates the isotopic results on dietary variation with an in-depth contextual analy... more This paper integrates the isotopic results on dietary variation with an in-depth contextual analysis of mortuary data from two Early Iron Age cemeteries in Halos, Thessaly, central Greece. While the diet was mainly based on C3 plant and animal protein, there is evidence for the consumption of C4 resources (millet) by a few females, but also increased meat consumption by some individuals, sometimes furnished with weapons or other wealthy offerings. In addition, infants, children and adults in the two cemeteries show a difference in δ15N values. The analysis therefore reveals possible emerging differentiation between age, sex and possibly status groups in a crucial period of Greek prehistory, after the disintegration of theMycenaean palatial societies and the ensuing period of regression.
Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome
This paper presents the preliminary results from the 2022 fieldwork of the Palamas Archaeological... more This paper presents the preliminary results from the 2022 fieldwork of the Palamas Archaeological Project, an ongoing Greek–Swedish collaboration in the region of Karditsa, Thessaly. Working over the course of two separate field seasons, the project team conducted aerial, architectural, fieldwalking, and geophysical surveys at a number of sites within the survey area, including at the important multi-phase fortified settlements at Metamorfosi and Vlochos. Limited excavations were also conducted at the latter site, producing new evidence for the Hellenistic and Early Byzantine phases of the ancient city, including a probable cemetery. The work continues to add to the knowledge of the archaeology of the region, highlighting the long and dynamic history of human habitation in western Thessaly.
Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome, 2022
This paper presents preliminary results of the Palamas Archaeological Project relating to the Lat... more This paper presents preliminary results of the Palamas Archaeological Project relating to the Late Roman and Early Byzantine periods in the study area in western Thessaly, Greece. These periods are comparatively understudied in Thessaly, and the aim of this work is to highlight the extent of the material and the potential of investigating the archaeology of Late Antiquity in the region. The work was centred on excavations and survey at the site at Vlochos, alongside architectural survey at the neighbouring site on Kourtikiano hill. The paper also presents studies into Late Roman and Early Byzantine material found during cleaning at Vlochos. Additionally, an unpublished inscription spoliated in a church in nearby Palamas is presented. The results show a dynamic and detailed range of Late Antique activity in the area, adding significantly to our understanding of the post-Classical habitations on the western Thessalian plain.
Through the analysis of the EIA Mound 36 at Voulokalyva in Thessaly we lay out the complexities i... more Through the analysis of the EIA Mound 36 at Voulokalyva in Thessaly we lay out the complexities involved in interpreting a context with cremated bones either as a primary cremation area or as a secondary deposition. We first provide comparative evidence from sites of this period from Greece to allow for correlations between contextual parameters and osseous characteristics to emerge and inform about the burial practice. We then contrast this evidence to finds from Mound 36 to demonstrate that its use was multifaceted and lasted for an extended period of time, most likely serving as a place of reverence and ancestral cult. Attention is drawn to similarities between Voulokalyva and Lefkandi, for which a complex burial program has also been suggested. The mound comprises inhumations and cremations of adults and infants, although cremated infant remains were found only sporadically among the cremated remains of more mature individuals. Brandbestattungen von der mittleren Donau bis zur Ä...
The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, ... more The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-pro t purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full DRO policy for further details.
Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome, 2020
The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation o... more The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation of the remains of the ancient urban site at Vlochos in western Thessaly, Greece. Employing a wide array of non-invasive methods, the project succeeded in completely mapping the visible remains, which had previously not been systematically investigated. The extensive remains of multi-period urban fortifications, a Classical-Hellenistic city, a Roman town, and a Late Antique fortress were identified, evidence of the long history of habitation on this site. Since comparatively little fieldwork has been conducted in the region, the results significantly increase our knowledge of the history and archaeology of Thessaly.
This article presents evidence of population movements in Thessaly, Greece, during the Early Iron... more This article presents evidence of population movements in Thessaly, Greece, during the Early Iron Age (Protogeometric period, eleventh–ninth centuriesbc). The method we employed to detect non-local individuals is strontium isotope analysis (87Sr/86Sr) of tooth enamel integrated with the contextual analysis of mortuary practices and osteological analysis of the skeletal assemblage. During the Protogeometric period, social and cultural transformations occurred while society was recovering from the disintegration of the Mycenaean civilization (twelfth centurybc). The analysis of the cemeteries of Voulokaliva, Chloe, and Pharsala, located in southern Thessaly, showed that non-local individuals integrated in the communities we focused on and contributed to the observed diversity in burial practices and to the developments in the formation of a social organization.
This paper integrates the isotopic results on dietary variation with an in-depth contextual analy... more This paper integrates the isotopic results on dietary variation with an in-depth contextual analysis of mortuary data from two Early Iron Age cemeteries in Halos, Thessaly, central Greece. While the diet was mainly based on C 3 plant and animal protein, there is evidence for the consumption of C 4 resources (millet) by a few females, but also increased meat consumption by some individuals, sometimes furnished with weapons or other wealthy offerings. In addition, infants, children and adults in the two cemeteries show a difference in δ 15 N values. The analysis therefore reveals possible emerging differentiation between age, sex and possibly status groups in a crucial period of Greek prehistory, after the disintegration of the Mycenaean palatial societies and the ensuing period of regression.
Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome
This paper presents preliminary results of the Palamas Archaeological Project relating to the Lat... more This paper presents preliminary results of the Palamas Archaeological Project relating to the Late Roman and Early Byzantine periods in the study area in western Thessaly, Greece. These periods are comparatively understudied in Thessaly, and the aim of this work is to highlight the extent of the material and the potential of investigating the archaeology of Late Antiquity in the region. The work was centred on excavations and survey at the site at Vlochos, alongside architectural survey at the neighbouring site on Kourtikiano hill. The paper also presents studies into Late Roman and Early Byzantine material found during cleaning at Vlochos. Additionally, an unpublished inscription spoliated in a church in nearby Palamas is presented. The results show a dynamic and detailed range of Late Antique activity in the area, adding significantly to our understanding of the post-Classical habitations on the western Thessalian plain.
The castration of most male animals seems to have been the rule in ancient Greece when rearing ca... more The castration of most male animals seems to have been the rule in ancient Greece when rearing cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs; only very few adult males are needed for breeding purposes and flocks of bulls, rams, billy-goats and boars are difficult to keep, since they are too aggressive. Castrated males yield more and fattier meat, and, in the case of sheep, more wool. Still, sacred laws and sacrificial calendars stipulate the sacrifice of uncastrated victims, and vase-paintings frequently represent bulls, rams and billy-goats in ritual contexts. This paper will discuss the role of uncastrated male animals in Greek cult in the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods, both from a religious and an agricultural perspective. Of particular interest are the relations between the practical, economic reality and the theological perception of sacrifice. These issues will be explored using epigraphical, literary, iconographical and zooarchaeological evidence.*
Opuscula. Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome
This paper presents a short summary of archaeological operations carried out in 2020 in the area ... more This paper presents a short summary of archaeological operations carried out in 2020 in the area of the modern village of Vlochos on the western Thessalian plain, Greece, as part of the Palamas Archaeological Project (PAP). Initially, the project aimed to conduct a significant campaign of fieldwork during the 2020 season, but operations were severely scaled back by limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, only a small-scale campaign, aimed at method testing and exploratory investigation, could be carried out. Fieldwork included an evaluation of complimentary geophysical techniques, cleaning operations, and oral history enquiries. The work—despite its limitations—highlighted the value of using multiple geophysical techniques, as well as proving the importance of a systematic cleaning of the site. Overall, the first season of PAP highlighted the productivity of the research project and will act as a strong foundation for the forthcoming field seasons.
The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation o... more The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation of the remains of the ancient urban site at Vlochos in western Thessaly, Greece. Employing a wide array of noninvasive methods, the project succeeded in completely mapping the visible remains, which had previously not been systematically investigated. The extensive remains of multi-period urban fortifications, a Classical- Hellenistic city, a Roman town, and a Late Antique fortress were identified, evidence of the long history of habitation on this site. Since comparatively little fieldwork has been conducted in the region, the results significantly increase our knowledge of the history and archaeology of Thessaly.
Opuscula Annual of the Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome, 2020
The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation o... more The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation of the remains of the ancient urban site at Vlochos in western Thessaly, Greece. Employing a wide array of non-invasive methods, the project succeeded in completely mapping the visible remains, which had previously not been systematically investigated. The extensive remains of multi-period urban fortifications, a Classical-Hellenistic city, a Roman town, and a Late Antique fortress were identified, evidence of the long history of habitation on this site. Since comparatively little fieldwork has been conducted in the region, the results significantly increase our knowledge of the history and archaeology of Thessaly.
This article presents evidence of population movements in Thessaly, Greece, during the Early Iron... more This article presents evidence of population movements in Thessaly, Greece, during the Early Iron Age (Protogeometric period, eleventh–ninth centuries BC). The method we employed to detect non-local individuals is strontium isotope analysis (87Sr/86Sr) of tooth enamel integrated with the contextual analysis of mortuary practices and osteological analysis of the skeletal assemblage. During the Protogeometric period, social and cultural transformations occurred while society was recovering from the disintegration of the Mycenaean civilization (twelfth century BC). The analysis of the cemeteries of Voulokaliva, Chloe, and Pharsala, located in southern Thessaly, showed that non-local individuals integrated in the communities we focused on and contributed to the observed diversity in burial practices and to the developments in the formation of a social organization.
In: Michaela Lochner and Florian Ruppenstein (eds.) Cremation Burials in the Region between the Middle Danube and the Aegean, 1300‒750 B.C., ÖAW (Vienna 2010), 2013
Through the analysis of the EIA Mound 36 at Voulokalyva
in Thessaly we lay out the complexities i... more Through the analysis of the EIA Mound 36 at Voulokalyva in Thessaly we lay out the complexities involved in interpreting a context with cremated bones either as a primary cremation area or as a secondary deposition. We first provide comparative evidence from sites of this period from Greece to allow for correlations between contextual parameters and osseous characteristics to emerge and inform about the burial practice. We then contrast this evidence to finds from Mound 36 to demonstrate that its use was multifaceted and lasted for an extended period of time, most likely serving as a place of reverence and ancestral cult. Attention is drawn to similarities between Voulokalyva and Lefkandi, for which a complex burial program has also been suggested. The mound comprises inhumations and cremations of adults and infants, although cremated infant remains were found only sporadically among the cremated remains of more mature individuals.
This paper integrates the isotopic results on dietary variation with an in-depth contextual analy... more This paper integrates the isotopic results on dietary variation with an in-depth contextual analysis of mortuary data from two Early Iron Age cemeteries in Halos, Thessaly, central Greece. While the diet was mainly based on C3 plant and animal protein, there is evidence for the consumption of C4 resources (millet) by a few females, but also increased meat consumption by some individuals, sometimes furnished with weapons or other wealthy offerings. In addition, infants, children and adults in the two cemeteries show a difference in δ15N values. The analysis therefore reveals possible emerging differentiation between age, sex and possibly status groups in a crucial period of Greek prehistory, after the disintegration of theMycenaean palatial societies and the ensuing period of regression.
ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΜΟΥΣΕΙΟ ΒΟΛΟΥ / ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF VOLOS) 09.00-09.15 ΕΝΑΡΞΗ (Δημήτρης Παλιοθό... more ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΜΟΥΣΕΙΟ ΒΟΛΟΥ / ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF VOLOS) 09.00-09.15 ΕΝΑΡΞΗ (Δημήτρης Παλιοθόδωρος & Ανθή Μπάτζιου: αναφορά στην προσωπικότητα και στο έργο του συναδέλφου Γιάννη Α. Πίκουλα, που χάθηκε πρόωρα) ΘΕΣΣΑΛΙΑ ΠΡΟΪΣΤΟΡΙΚΑ Α ΣΥΝΕΔΡΙΑ Προεδρείο: Άρτεμις Καρναβά, Ανθή Μπάτζιου 09.15-09.30 Agathe Reingruber, Giorgos Toufexis, Grigorios Tsokas, Archaeological and geophysical investigations in Elateia 1, a flat extended site of the early MN (6000-5800 calBC) 09.30-09.45 Eva Alram-Stern-Γιώργος Τουφεξής, Η Πλατιά Μαγούλα Ζάρκου και πολιτισμική αλλαγή κατά την 6 η χιλιετία π.Χ. 09.45-10.00 Στέλλα Σουβατζή, Φυσικό και κοινωνικό τοπίο στη Νεολιθική Πλατιά Μαγούλα Ζάρκου 10.00-10.15 Νεκταρία Αλεξίου, Νεολιθικά ειδώλια από τον προϊστορικό οικισμό της Νεράιδας στην Λάρισα (οικόπεδο Παπαγεωργίου).
The archaeological site of Vlochós is located on and immediately below the hill of Strongilovoúni... more The archaeological site of Vlochós is located on and immediately below the hill of Strongilovoúni (313 masl) just south of the eponymous village in Thessaly, Greece. The Greek-Swedish collaboration ‘The Vlochos Archaeological Project’ (VLAP) was carried out between 2016 and 2018, with participating archaeologists and students from the Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa, the University of Gothenburg and Bournemouth University. The project was non-invasive, employing a wide arrange of methods in surveying the site, including surface survey of standing architectural remains, topographical surveying and geophysical prospection.
During a total of seven weeks of fieldwork, 6 km of fortification walls and terraces were recorded and 13 hectares of ground were surveyed using fluxgate-gradiometry. An additional 2.6 hectares of ground were surveyed using ground-penetrating radar (GPR), aiming at providing high-resolution “windows” into the buried remains on site. Most of the site surface was also photographed by a drone, providing the project with high-resolution vertical images of all visible remains. The photographs have been combined into a site-encompassing aerial mosaic, but also into a photogrammetric 3D model.
The work presented here focuses on the gradiometry survey that revealed an extensive urban layout that featured multiple phases of construction. Some of these can be dated confidently on the basis of stylistic elements and surface material, whereas some can only be chronologically positioned in relation to the others.
The extensive gradiometry, executed using a Bartington Grad601-2 gradiometer, covered a low plateau at the base of the fortified hill. The plateau is bounded to the north by the hill and to the south by a river. While some standing remains are visible, the area is largely covered by a layer of sediment and erosion deposits. This survey clearly revealed buried architecture, identified by low magnetic linear features, and areas of magnetic enrichment. In comparing this data with similar, excavated sites it is possible to postulate about the likely character of responses. Clear built structures are visible, some of which corresponding to Ancient Greek forms such as domestic houses, agorai, temples and stoai. Additionally, areas of magnetic enrichment focus on spaces between buildings and likely represent the remains of streets and avenues. Clear phasing can be seen in the differential orientation of street layouts and of some of the defensive structures. The magnetic image can clearly be divided in two two phases, one which corresponds to the preserved late Classical and Hellenistic fortifications (mid-4th to early 2nd century BCE) and another that seemingly occurred later, most likely Late Roman (mid-6th century CE). Within the late Classical-Hellenistic phase there is a clear central avenue, running southeast-northwest, with numerous perpendicular streets that demarcate habitation blocks and other civic structures. The later phase of fortification shows hints of truncation of the earlier layout, most notably in the area immediately adjacent to the later wall. In addition, both phases include numerous entrances and towers.
A central tenant of the project is the incorporation of multiple non-invasive approaches. When the geophysical evidence is incorporated with the other techniques it becomes possible to propose a preliminary phase schema for the site.
The Vlochos Archaeological Project (VLAP) is a three-year collaboration between the Ephorate of A... more The Vlochos Archaeological Project (VLAP) is a three-year collaboration between the Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa and the Swedish Institute at Athens, involving a team of archaeologists from Greece, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The focus of the programme is the archaeological site at the modern village Vlochos, in the municipality of Palamas (prefecture of Karditsa); a fortified urban site of the Classical-Roman periods known from previous archaeological work in the region.
The objective of VLAP is to record the totality of the visible ancient structures as well as to conduct a geophysical survey of the buried remains, aiming at understanding the diachronic use of the site and its phases of habitation. Consequently, the data will contribute to a broader understanding of the urbanisation processes in this part of ancient western Thessaly. The programme is fully non-invasive, utilising both traditional documentation as well as modern digital methods of surveying.
The preliminary results of the first two field-seasons indicate that the remains at Vlochos belong to several chronologically distinct urban-like settlements, covering the late Classical period until Late Roman period. With parallels in both Thessaly and Boeotia, the site displays several characteristics of ancient urban environments in Central Greece, linking it with the general socio-political developments in the region.
This paper presents a short summary of archaeological operations carried out in 2020 in the area ... more This paper presents a short summary of archaeological operations carried out in 2020 in the area of the modern village of Vlochos on the western Thessalian plain, Greece, as part of the Palamas Archaeological Project (PAP). Initially, the project aimed to conduct a significant campaign of fieldwork during the 2020 season, but operations were severely scaled back by limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, only a small-scale campaign, aimed at method testing and exploratory investigation, could be carried out. Fieldwork included an evaluation of complimentary geophysical techniques, cleaning operations, and oral history enquiries. The work—despite its limitations—highlighted the value of using multiple geophysical techniques, as well as proving the im- portance of a systematic cleaning of the site. Overall, the first season of PAP highlighted the productivity of the research project and will act as a strong foundation for the forthcoming field seasons.
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Papers by Fotini Tsiouka
evidence of the long history of habitation on this site. Since comparatively little fieldwork has been conducted in the region, the results significantly increase our knowledge of the history and archaeology of
Thessaly.
in Thessaly we lay out the complexities involved in
interpreting a context with cremated bones either as a primary
cremation area or as a secondary deposition. We first
provide comparative evidence from sites of this period from
Greece to allow for correlations between contextual parameters
and osseous characteristics to emerge and inform
about the burial practice. We then contrast this evidence to
finds from Mound 36 to demonstrate that its use was multifaceted
and lasted for an extended period of time, most
likely serving as a place of reverence and ancestral cult. Attention
is drawn to similarities between Voulokalyva and
Lefkandi, for which a complex burial program has also
been suggested. The mound comprises inhumations and
cremations of adults and infants, although cremated infant
remains were found only sporadically among the cremated
remains of more mature individuals.
evidence of the long history of habitation on this site. Since comparatively little fieldwork has been conducted in the region, the results significantly increase our knowledge of the history and archaeology of
Thessaly.
in Thessaly we lay out the complexities involved in
interpreting a context with cremated bones either as a primary
cremation area or as a secondary deposition. We first
provide comparative evidence from sites of this period from
Greece to allow for correlations between contextual parameters
and osseous characteristics to emerge and inform
about the burial practice. We then contrast this evidence to
finds from Mound 36 to demonstrate that its use was multifaceted
and lasted for an extended period of time, most
likely serving as a place of reverence and ancestral cult. Attention
is drawn to similarities between Voulokalyva and
Lefkandi, for which a complex burial program has also
been suggested. The mound comprises inhumations and
cremations of adults and infants, although cremated infant
remains were found only sporadically among the cremated
remains of more mature individuals.
During a total of seven weeks of fieldwork, 6 km of fortification walls and terraces were recorded and 13 hectares of ground were surveyed using fluxgate-gradiometry. An additional 2.6 hectares of ground were surveyed using ground-penetrating radar (GPR), aiming at providing high-resolution “windows” into the buried remains on site. Most of the site surface was also photographed by a drone, providing the project with high-resolution vertical images of all visible remains. The photographs have been combined into a site-encompassing aerial mosaic, but also into a photogrammetric 3D model.
The work presented here focuses on the gradiometry survey that revealed an extensive urban layout that featured multiple phases of construction. Some of these can be dated confidently on the basis of stylistic elements and surface material, whereas some can only be chronologically positioned in relation to the others.
The extensive gradiometry, executed using a Bartington Grad601-2 gradiometer, covered a low plateau at the base of the fortified hill. The plateau is bounded to the north by the hill and to the south by a river. While some standing remains are visible, the area is largely covered by a layer of sediment and erosion deposits. This survey clearly revealed buried architecture, identified by low magnetic linear features, and areas of magnetic enrichment. In comparing this data with similar, excavated sites it is possible to postulate about the likely character of responses. Clear built structures are visible, some of which corresponding to Ancient Greek forms such as domestic houses, agorai, temples and stoai. Additionally, areas of magnetic enrichment focus on spaces between buildings and likely represent the remains of streets and avenues. Clear phasing can be seen in the differential orientation of street layouts and of some of the defensive structures.
The magnetic image can clearly be divided in two two phases, one which corresponds to the preserved late Classical and Hellenistic fortifications (mid-4th to early 2nd century BCE) and another that seemingly occurred later, most likely Late Roman (mid-6th century CE). Within the late Classical-Hellenistic phase there is a clear central avenue, running southeast-northwest, with numerous perpendicular streets that demarcate habitation blocks and other civic structures. The later phase of fortification shows hints of truncation of the earlier layout, most notably in the area immediately adjacent to the later wall. In addition, both phases include numerous entrances and towers.
A central tenant of the project is the incorporation of multiple non-invasive approaches. When the geophysical evidence is incorporated with the other techniques it becomes possible to propose a preliminary phase schema for the site.
The objective of VLAP is to record the totality of the visible ancient structures as well as to conduct a geophysical survey of the buried remains, aiming at understanding the diachronic use of the site and its phases of habitation. Consequently, the data will contribute to a broader understanding of the urbanisation processes in this part of ancient western Thessaly. The programme is fully non-invasive, utilising both traditional documentation as well as modern digital methods of surveying.
The preliminary results of the first two field-seasons indicate that the remains at Vlochos belong to several chronologically distinct urban-like settlements, covering the late Classical period until Late Roman period. With parallels in both Thessaly and Boeotia, the site displays several characteristics of ancient urban environments in Central Greece, linking it with the general socio-political developments in the region.