Excavation area
Acropolis, Area E. The 2023 excavations continued in the area investigated in previous years, situated on the north-western edge of the acropolis, adjacent to a stretch of the city wall.
Chronology and function
No new elements of any significance relating to Phase I (6th- first half of the 5th century B.C., in green on the plan) and Phase II (second half of the 5th – mid 3rd century B.C., in yellow on the plan) were uncovered. The most interesting results related to Phase III (mid 3rd century – 2nd century B.C., in orange and red on the plan).
Room G: despite the excavation being extended by c. 6 m towards the south, the entire extent of the room remains to be identified as the south wall was still not reached. Its size (c. 8 × 10 m: central area EW and NS), the excavation data, and its interpretation as a production area, suggests that room G was an open space, bordered by a low footing without standing structures.
Bearing in mind, the considerations made in 2022 regarding the production of oil that must have taken place in the various phases in rooms G, C, B and A, the 2023 results suggested new hypotheses. In fact, the joint presence of other production activities seems to be attested in room G, possibly linked to metal working, evidence for which is provided by a large number of crucibles. Observation of the basalt paved area (c. 7 × 4 m) present within the room showed that the joint presence of diverse production activities was possible. Indeed, its northern half slopes notably downwards to the north, towards a network of channels associated with the oil production, whereas the southern part slopes down to the south-west suggesting a separate and different use.
In the eastern and northern parts of room G, where the basalt paving was not present, there was a beaten-earth floor. A channel was present in this floor, leading from the re-used pressorium situated at the N edge of the basalt paving to the room’s N wall, beyond which it joined a channel in the adjacent room C.
Room I: the new room is adjacent to room G and room A. The excavation, limited to the uppermost stratigraphic layers, indicates a chronology belonging to the final occupation phase of the entire area, but at present it is not possible to suggest the room’s function. Although the room is adjacent to room G, thus far it does not seem to have the same use. The room’s north wall was faced with painted plaster (red/pink). This fact suggests that it was not part of the adjacent large production complex.
There was a quadrangular structure (c. 110 × 130 cm) at the centre of the room, with a raised border made of calcareous stones and a calcarenite floor, inside which was evidence of the repeated use of fire (ash in the uppermost part and flaking and reddening of the calcarenite). The structure, in absence of further and certain data, can be interpreted as a hearth/altar.
To the west of this feature, there was the skeleton of an adult male, lying face down, dating to the moment the room was abandoned.