Yellow Second Session Report (Johanna Best and Kelcy Sagstetter)
2010

North of Nezi

The following summarizes the results of excavation in the area directly north of the Byzantine House excavated in 1961, in the space bounded by north-south wall 5677 on the west (E. 261.83), east-west wall 5562 on the south (N. 1040.23), and north-south wall 5431 on the east (E. 276.78). The northern boundary of the area under investigation is delineated by the scarp of the excavations and backfill from the late 19th century, later excavations in the area to the south of the South Stoa by Oscar Broneer in the 1930s, and the subsequent excavations in the 1960s (N. 1046.51).

The excavation of this area was supervised by Dr. G.D.R. Sanders (director) and Martin Wells (field supervisor). The Yellow team consisted of Panos Kakouros (pick man) Vassilis Kollias (wheelbarrow man), and Agamemnon Karvouniaris (sieve man). Johanna Best and Kelcy Sagstetter were recorders for the second session, from 4 May – 21 May, 2010. This area was last excavated in the first session of 2010 by Jessica Paga.

Our primary objectives in excavating this area include defining the relationship of this area to the Byzantine House to the south, clarifying the possible connections and relationships between this trench and the area south of the South Stoa, and understanding what was backfill from previous excavations in the 1930s and 1960s and what were unexcavated strata. The excavations of session 1, 2010 have led us to believe that this area is probably an exterior space, and another goal was to clarify how it was used in the Middle and Late Byzantine periods. The many large pits, ashy layers in the middle and eastern end of the trench, and the possible external floor surfaces led us to believe that this may have been an industrial area, a hypothesis we hope will be tested in the final session of excavation. The work in session 2 has concentrated on the eastern half of the trench: the western limit has been defined by robbing trench 5802, the northern boundary is the scarp created in the 1930s, the eastern boundary is wall 5431, and the southern boundary is wall 6765. The western half of the trench remains at the level of excavation achieved at the end of session 1.

From the excavation this session, we can add to Jessica Paga’s suggestions from session 1 about the area west of robbing trench 5802, east of wall 5677, and north of wall 5562. She suggested that the marble tiled floor (5710) was laid in the 10th century. Based on the placement of the tiles and placement of the later built pithos (5504), we hypothesize that in the 10th century this tile was an external decorative surface surrounding a fountain. Above this, in a possible period of abandonment after the 10th century, several deposits of fill and accumulation (most likely both natural and man-made, and all datable to the 10th-11th centuries) may indicate a period of abandonment. In session 2, we found that 6912, a possible leveling fill for a floor, was visually similar to 6696 and 6698 (according to Martin Wells), both of which were excavated in session 1. Based on the dating of 6912 by pottery to the 11th century, and the similar dating of 6696 and 6698 to the 11th and mid-12th centuries, the western and eastern portions of the trench (at least including the area west of 269E and wall 5677) may have been united as one external floor surface in the mid-11th century. Jess Paga has noted that this large external floor surface was cut in the 12th century by a bothros (5629) and a built pithos (5504). The 12th century dates of the pits 6840 and 6891 in the central part of the trench lead us to believe that they may have been contemporaneous with the pithos and bothros in the west.
A pit filled with ash (6929) was revealed to the east of pit 6840 and north of wall 6821. Although we have no precise date for wall 6821, we know it was robbed out in the late 11th/early 12th centuries due to the fill of robbing trench 6927. The first layer of fill, context 6928, was removed as a U-shaped context, since the ash in this context surrounded a small intrusion of dark reddish brown soil which was the same as the soil in 7009 (fill of robbing trench 6927). The cut for the robbing trench did not truncate the cut for the pit 6929, yet the fill of the robbing trench continued into the fill of the pit. In context 7014, the fill second from top in 6929, we discovered a large stone covered in concrete. Under the following layer of fill (7033), we came upon a very deep ash fill, which remains unexcavated. A small tile stack, structure 7017, was excavated just to the east of the robbing trench 6927. The working hypothesis for area is as follows: pit 6929 was dug and filled in with layers of ash and dirt around a large stone in the 11th century. At some point before the late 11th or early 12th centuries wall 6821 was constructed to the south of this pit and also the tile stack (7017) was built adjacent to it, upon which burning activities took place. It is possible that 7017 is only a portion of a larger tile stack, which extended from the north end of wall 6821 to the edge of the pit. We speculate that the ash in the pit came from this source, and that when the robbing of 6821 took place the majority of this tile structure was also removed. This hypothesis would account for a portion of robbing fill 7009 intruding into the fill of pit 6929. Further excavation into the deeper fills of pit 6929 will hopefully create more clarity in this area. We speculate that whatever industrial activity led to the creation of cuts 6840, 5629, and 5504 may have also led to the cutting of pit 6929.

Excavation of contexts 7018 and 7022 in the area between walls 6821, 5562, and 6789 has revealed that these areas were active in the 11th century. Although there is no more precise date, a possible pit in the southeast corner of 7018 suggests a continuation of the pit-digging activity seen in the central and western portions of the trench. Further excavation of this area may bring provide some greater clarity on this point.

In investigating the extent of ash deposits in the trench, we removed structure 6807, identified by Jessica Paga as a possible tile-covered hearth. Under a layer of clay bedding for the tiles (6936) we found three distinct layers of ash fill (6938, 6942, and 6981 respectively). 6942 included areas of extremely compact ash, which may have been mixed with lime and water, and the stones surrounding 6942 showed signs of burning. However, the contexts immediately to the south of the tile “hearth,” include less ash (though some charcoal), more inclusions (bone, tile, and ceramics), and large stones. One of these contexts, 6962 (currently not completely excavated due to a threat to the integrity of wall 6765) seems to continue under wall 6765 and may join with context 5759. Additionally, 6962 contains a curved line of large stones at its current bottom. At this point, we hypothesize that the area between walls 6789, 6764, and 5431 was filled with dumping or leveling fills in the 11th century. Wall 6765 must have been both built and partially robbed in the 12th century as it rests on 6962 and 5759 (dated late 11th century and mid-12th centuries respectively) and under context 6747, which was dated to the 12th century. At this point, we speculate that selective robbing on the northeast and southwest portions of 6747 was the cause for the creation of what appears to be an S-shaped wall. Further excavation of the northeastern part of wall 6765 might clarify its use and construction. Structure 6956 was probably built abutting the western side of 6765 at about the same time that tile structure 6807 was constructed. Although we saw signs of burning in fill 6942 under the tile structure 6807, the quantity of ash in this area is probably best explained through dumping activity. The source of the production of this much ash is yet unknown.

In conclusion, the Middle and Late Byzantine period is primarily identifiable in this trench by means of the various 11th century floor surfaces, the number of pits dug in the area, and the evidence of industrial activity. Although there is not any direct access between this area and the Byzantine House in this period, it is clear that both spaces were actively in use. The trench’s small spaces, the presence of ashy deposits, and external floor surfaces suggest an industrial use.

Suggestions for further excavation:

1. Continue to define the northern baulk and trace the line of backfill and cuts made in the 1930s in order to prevent contamination.
2. Continue excavating contexts 6787, 6977, and 6962, all of which were paused, mid-excavation, as well as resume excavation of the pit between walls 5431, 6764, 6765, and 6775 (contexts 6759 and 6770) Excavation in this area may help to clarify the nature of the Middle Byzantine activity in the area. In addition, it might be profitable to continue excavation to the north of wall 6775.
3. Continue excavation of the area between walls 6821 and 6789 and north of pit 6840 to better the understanding of the overall activity in this area. In particular, the excavation of pit 6929 might clarify what sort of industrial or storage activities were taking place here.
4. Excavation of the marble tile floor (5710) and further excavation of built pithos 5504 could provide evidence of activity in the western part of the trench
5. Define the rocks that have appeared just north of wall 5562 in between walls 6789 and 6821. This might help to clarify the nature of structure 6820.


Panayia Field (NE) Report

The following summarizes the results of excavation of Ottoman graves in two areas of Panayia Field. The first area is located between 987-988N and 416-419E. The second area is further to the south between 978-980N and 424.5-426E.

The excavation of this area was supervised by Dr. G.D.R. Sanders (director). The Yellow team consisted of Panos Kakouros (pick man) Vassilis Kollias (wheelbarrow man), and Agamemnon Karvouniaris (sieve man). Kelcy Sagstetter and Johanna Best were recorders, from 5 May – 11 May, 2010. This excavation was, in part, filmed for the television documentary “1821: Birth of a Nation” by Anemon Productions.

The primary objectives for these excavations were to continue the excavation of Ottoman period graves in Panayia Field, which had recently been published by Rohn, Barnes, and Sanders in Hesperia 78 (2009). In addition, the excavation of these graves could visually aid the viewers of “1821” and help them to better understand burial practices and social fabric of Ottoman Corinth.

Excavation in the first area (987-988N and 416-419E) took place on 5 May. Two small grave pits were dug, in hopes of revealing burials. Both of these small pits (Baskets 43 and 45) revealed disarticulated human bone beneath the topsoil. The date given to both these baskets, based on associated pottery, was Mid-Byzantine (12th century), however this may be due to agricultural activity in the area, making the graves themselves as late as the Ottoman period.

Excavation then commenced in the second area (978-980N and 424.5-426E). This area was selected because the skull of the skeleton in this burial was emerging from the baulk running north-south along 424.5E. Excavations over the course of 6 May – 11 May, 2010 (Baskets 44 and 46) revealed an unlined burial pit oriented northeast-southwest containing an articulated skeleton. The skeleton was complete and in good condition. The grave appeared roughly sub-rectangular in shape, although the western edge had completely eroded. The skeleton’s skull was in the southwestern part of the grave and the head appeared to have been turned to face the southeast. The skeleton was in a partial fetal position, turned onto its right side, but with its pelvis flat and the left leg extended straight down. The right leg was bowed. The left arm was placed at roughly a 90 degree angle across its ribcage, with the hand and fingers tucked directly underneath the wrist. The right arm was extended along its right side with the palm down. The shoulders were hunched up in a manner consistent with having been dragged by the shoulders. Based on stature (approximately 5’1”) and a cursory examination of the sciatic notch, we believe the skeleton is female. Comparanda from the Hesperia supplement suggest that skulls facing the southeast and legs bowed indicate Muslim-style burials. However the lack of bowing in the left leg, as well as the careless way the rest of the skeleton appears to be placed, suggest that these features are coincidental and may not indicate a religious affinity. All of the graves immediately surrounding the burial, except one, were hypothesized to be Christian-style. Pottery found both baskets (the fill and the grave itself) range from Middle Byzantine (12th century) to the early Ottoman period. However comparanda from the rest of Panayia Field suggests that the burial is probably from the first 2/3 of the 17th century.