EXPLORATIONS IN PISTIROS (Zofia Archibald – Z.Archibald@liverpool.ac.uk, Mark Adams) Explorations in trench D24 located in the western part of the site near the end of the terrace towards the River of Maritsa were carried out. Tiles, burnt clay and animal bones were found under the humus. A clay floor level was discovered below. The finds include fragmentary plaster of a wall painted in red and white, fragments of a decorated terracotta eschara and an iron fibula of the Thracian type. An earlier floor was discovered below the floor level. The finds include fragments of amphorae and imported Attic black-gloss pottery. Two fragments of a kantharos show that the earlier floor level dates to the last quarter of the 4th century BC, i.e. to the last, third occupation period of Pistiros. The excavations of the lower strata continued in trench B21 located to the south of the main street. The strata explored by 2004 belong to the third occupation period in the emporion. A spot of burnt clay, most likely a hearth, was discovered. Remains of an earlier hearth cut by two pits containing sherds were partly discovered below. Iron objects, loom weights and a decorated cult figurine were found. A fragment of dolium with graffito containing words, which could be not entirely read, and several Macedonian personal names, Antipatro[s?] among them, deserves special attention.

EXPLORATIONS IN PISTIROS (Zofia Archibald – Z.Archibald@liverpool.ac.uk) In trench B21, which borders on A20, there are features that correspond to depositing votive offerings in the vicinity of decorated hearths and ashy bonfires. Some isolated finds (loom weights, metal items) were discovered. Although the central parts of the trench are complicated by the presence of inter-cutting pits, dug into these levels from the latest occupation period, much of the data is connected with metalworking, whether in situ or re-deposited. An irregular feature composed of fired clay has produced a number of copper and iron artefacts, together with slag fragments. Remains of a post-built structure, presumably a smith’s forge, were discovered. In trench D24, two successive floors of mud plaster were documented in 2004. Below the lower floor was a third floor of mud plaster. The upper floor is associated with the remains of a baked clay foundation, probably belonging to a decorated hearth. The new floor is also associated with a baked clay construction, partly made up of curved bricks. Most of the material associated with the levels above the floor deposits consists of architectural ceramics (tiles, wall plaster) and pottery (Thracian storage and tableware, imported amphorae, imported Attic and other fine tablewares, a pyxis). The data demonstrate that domestic life continued from the second to the third occupation periods, apparently without any external disturbance other than periodic floods from the river.

EXPLORATIONS IN PISTIROS (Zofia Archibald – z.archibald@liverpool.ac.uk) Important changes were noted in square B21, which provided a coherent interpretation of activities during the 2nd and 3rd phases of Pistiros. At least two built structures, probably of a residential nature, were identified. Pieces of sheet copper alloy, perhaps a set of tools, or material intended for recycling, were found. The presence of iron hammer scale indicates smithing activity. The existence of a built interior in the northernmost part of B21 was confirmed by the presence of a (?) domestic hearth. Near the south-western corner of B21, hard-fired clay fragments began to emerge, fallen face down, as the wall collapsed. This is the clearest evidence of a building with walls made up of packed stakes, overlaid inside and out with clay packing. A cobbled area and some paving slabs existed to the east of the center of B21. To the west of center, a well built in the 3rd phase existed. A ballista ball of 5 minas was found. Stone-throwing catapults came into use during the reign of Alexander the Great and were considerably developed in the early 3rd century BC. On the eastern and northern sides of square D24 a series of burned clay features were noted. It is not clear whether in the 1st phase D24 was used for residential or other purposes. By the 2nd phase residential structures began to be built and continued into the 3rd phase. A series of plaster floor surfaces, associated with several fired clay hearths, began to be constructed during the 4th century BC.

EMPORION PISTIROS (Zofia Archibald – z.archibald@liverpool.ac.uk) The explorations in trenches B21 and D/19-24 continued. Part of a house complex, situated in the northeastern part of Pistiros, was documented in trench D24. During the previous excavations, floor levels of the second (c. 370 – 280 BC) and the third (c. 280 – 100 BC) phases of the emporion were documented there. The aims of the present explorations were to specify whether any earlier constructions of the first phase (450 – 370 BC) existed on that place. Two looms weights and sherds were found. Houses and workshops, situated to the south of the central street of Pistiros, were discovered in trench B21. The floor levels that were reached, dated to the beginning of the second phase (370 – 350 BC). Fragmentary burned wattle-and-daub was found. Part of the fragments had traces from red paint, which was used for decoration of the interior walls. Pits containing dolia were explored outside the burned construction. A pit containing a Greek amphora was also discovered. Foundations of a decorated clay altar were discovered in the northwestern part of the trench. Pieces of copper slag, a needle and a fragment of bracelet were found close to the hearth. Of special interest was a pyramid terracotta loom weight showing the images of the lighting of Zeus, a schematic female figure, a pentagram surrounded by smaller pentagrams, the caduceus of Hermes, etc., while several Greek letters were depicted on the bottom of the weight.

EMPORION PISTIROS (Zofia Archibald – z.archibald@liverpool.ac.uk) A small number of finds and structures of Phase 1 of Pistiros (430 – 370 BC) were discovered in Trenches D19/24. Parts of two rooms of a house were documented. The finds included fragments from painted plaster, sherds, metal objects, including jewelry, and loom weights. Animal bones and sherds, including from amphorae, were found in Trench B21 located to the south of the main street close to the fortification wall. A hearth, containing ash, charcoal, iron and small glass bolls, indicating metallurgical activities, was documented under the debris from the fortification wall. According to the osteological analysis, the animal bones from Trenches D19/21 and B21 belonged to mammals, birds and fishes.

EMPORION PISTIROS (Zofia Archibald – z.archibald@liverpool.ac.uk) The earliest strata of the First Phase of Pistiros (c. 430 – 370 BC) were explored in Trenches B21 and D24/25. A building existed in Trenches D24/25, reconstructed several times during c. 350 – 250 BC. The finds included sherds, jewelry, an iron knife, terracotta loom weights, fragments from painted wall plaster and building ceramics. An architectural complex of house and workshop existed in Trench B21, located to the south of the main street. The finds included a zoomorphic point made from copper alloy and a small iron cube. The archaeobotanical analysis of samples from Pistiros showed the presence of pine, beech, oak, ash, maple, vine, peas and barley.