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Mediating Archaeology

Saturday August 9, 2003

Last night I was finally able to read through the AEP 1981 Verification Log upon which I found the information regarding Ayios Ioannis (F4) that I was looking for. The structures are indeed in the area where I glimpsed them from the beach. I will begin in this area today.

I took a sound footage of some goats in the fields south of F4 and a 360° panorama (shaky) in the middle of the field just to the south of the well. I ask a shepherd whether he ever found anything ancient of interest in the vicinity of F4 and his response like that of the truck driver yesterday was to suggest that I visit Franchthi Cave.

I also took a 100m video segment of a random transect running W to E from the seashore.

It is mid morning and the sun is beginning to get hot. There is mild breeze and the ever-present cry of cicadas in the carob tree behind me. I am currently in the midst of the terrace plots around the structures mentioned as part of F4.

Structure A consists of two lines of stones. Two stones in each are exposed under the thick grass overgrowth, in line and parallel to each other (refer to the 1981 field notebook entry VL1981p143).

Structure B appears to have been encroached upon by the dirt track which has been heavily used, perhaps by farm equipment (refer to the 1981 field notebook entry VL1981p143 and VL1981p144).

I was unable to locate structure C from the sketch map provided in the Verification Log 1981 also refer to entry VL1981p144 and VL1981p145. The area is overgrown in thick grass and thistles. I will take GPS readings and conduct a video walk along the track up to structure A @ N 37° 25.749 E 023° 08.09.

I have located some cut limestone blocks in a terrace adjacent to the earth track that transects the area. There is also a smaller modern structure fallen into disrepair with rubble walls and earthen mortar adjacent to the lower terrace with a modern sheepfold. I took some video footage of this structure during a walk through the fold earlier.

After completing the video walk through the terraces associated with F4 I took a video diary segment of the cut limestone blocks in the terrace line adjacent to the track. I also took footage of the modern structure from the top.

Upon leaving the area I noticed a possible wall exposed by the track where it crosses the lower terrace wall. I also noted another modern structure at the end of the lower terrace which is made up of larger boulders with rubble in between.

While driving out of the area I glimpsed a couple more such structures in the overgrown (maquis) section at the turn in the road.

I have just walked p the hill from the road that runs parallel to the Lambayana shore. The field was recently in grain. Lambayana tower (F3) is a most excellent structure. It is made up of several courses of polygonal conglomerate masonry. The top of the SW corner block is located @ N 37° 26.096 E 023° 08.077.

11:30 am--I will take a sound footage at the center as well as a 360° panorama from the top of the highest block.

A great deal of bulldozing has occurred recently in the immediate area of the tower. Two blocks in the SW corner and one in northern wall of the rectangular structure adjacent to main tower were plowed up and left in the terrace approximately 4m to the south. Meeting the NE corner of the tower a rough rubble line of stones appears to have been bulldozed into place. The AEP Verification Log 1981 mentions some conglomerate blocks set in a bedrock bedding which formed traces of another wall on the next terrace down (refer to VL1981p138). These blocks are nowhere to be found. All that remains is the cutting where the northernmost block was set in the bedrock.

I will photograph these transformed areas of F3, undertake a video walk and record a video diary segment (It is extremely windy at the moment so it is very difficult to write).

I also took a video transect from the tower, F3 down to the seashore across a recently graded field. I stopped at Casa di Pizza in Kranidhi for lunch.

After lunch I ventured back to the Lambayana area. I revisited the Lambayana shore site marked as F7. Several roof tile fragments were present. I noted many sherds and a pithos handle. There was nothing diagnostic.

The area is for sale and is encircled on all sides by recent houses.

I will take a video transect and a 360° panorama @ N 37° 26.036 E 023° 08.013.

3:28 pm--I have begun working my way up the valley from the Lambayana shore. I've pulled off under a carob tree on the left side of the road. I am about to venture to the top of Korita, F9. I will conduct a video walk from my position to the top and take GPS readings. F9 @ N 37° 26.037 E 023° 08.745.

A short walk around the summit of the hill turned up little more than a few sherds. The top of the hill has been recently plowed. Dried grain stalks lay scattered about the surface.

Upon descending the N flank of the hill the ceramic density increased. However, I did not see any obsidian. The area farther down slope was covered with thick undergrowth.

I returned to the car to set off for F57.

After walking through a field with widely spaced olive trees I located Megalo Khorafo, F57 (refer to: Blue Team 1980, BT1980p1). There are high concentrations of roof tiles around a line of ancient olive trees. I have also found several sherds of a deep-combed ware (Late Hellenistic?). I will photograph these and conduct a video transect of the area followed by a panorama.

5:05 pm--Several ancient olives are aligned in what may have been a terrace line at one time. The largest of these is almost 2m in diameter. In the open spaces around these olives new trees have been planted. Most of the terraces have fallen into disuse. They are switchback terraces as to allow for easy plowing. This area of F57 is located @ N 37° 25.761 E 023° 09.162.

I visited Fournoi in the late afternoon, early evening in order to get my bearings and revisit the lion head fountain marked as F60. The fountain doesn't run this late in the summer. The pair of lion heads is set low above a small basin within an even larger sunken basin area.

Not far from the central square where the fountain is located a building housing an olive press has collapsed. The press consisting of two large wheels and a large metal basin is in situ. In the alcove adjacent to this building is a large grinding stone with its metal axle still in place.

Upon returning to Ermioni I went for a swim on the tip of the peninsula, the area of ancient Hermion called the Bisti. E19 is huge. A large wall with towers encircles the entire peninsula. The top is pine covered and pleasant to stroll through. Many locals and tourists alike regularly use the Bisti for leisure--jogging, walking, swimming, fishing, etc.

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August 9, 2003 log entries

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