FIELDWORK Attica Central and Western Greece Cycladic Islands Dodecanese and North Aegean Islands Epirus Ionian Islands Macedonia and Thrace Multisite and outside Greece Peloponnese
Aphyssou Tsakona Project 1989-1991 Ayios Stephanos Excavation 1959-1963 Ayios Stephanos Excavation Project 1973-1977 Evrotas Valley Geoarchaeological Survey 1999 Isthmia Excavation 1932-1933 Kenchreai Quarry Landscapes 2013-2016 Kouphovouno Project 1999-2006 Kyparissia Excavation 1893 Laconia Excavations 1905 Laconia Rural Site Survey 1993-1994 Laconia Survey 1983-1988 Laconia Topography 1904-1909 Laconia Topography: Architectural Survey 1905-1909 Laconia Topography: Field Survey 1904-1909 Late Roman and Byzantine use of the Theatre Space Project Mamousia Excavation 1951 Megalopolis Excavation 1890-1893 Megalopolis Survey 1981-1983 Monemvasia Survey 1991-1996 Mycenae Excavation 1920-1923 Mycenae Excavation 1939 Mycenae Excavation 1950-1955 Mycenae Excavation 1959-1969 Mycenae study seasons Mycenae Survey 1991-1993 Pavlopetri Underwater Survey 1968 Peneios Valley Project 1967-1969 Perachora Building Survey 1964-1966 Perachora Excavation 1930-1939 Perachora Excavation 1982 Perachora Lake Vouliagmeni Excavation 1972 Perachora Stoa Excavation 1963 Perachora Waterworks Excavation 1972 Sparta Basilica Project 2000-2001 Sparta Excavation 1906-1910 Sparta Excavation 1924-1927 Sparta Geomorphological Survey 1996 Sparta Menelaion Excavation 1973-1980 Sparta Museum Catalogue 1904 Sparta Rescue Excavations 1949 Sparta Roman Stoa Excavation 1989-1991 Sparta Sanctuaries Project Sparta Theatre Excavation 1992-1998 The Menelaion project The Pavlopetri Underwater Archaeological Project 2009-2011 Topographic Survey of Arcadia-Laconia 1892-1893
Thessaly

Sparta Excavation 1906-1910 Season 1906

Excavation: Research excavation

This first season's work at the site of ancient Sparta by the British School at Athens revealed a number of remains. First, the fragmentary walls enclosing the ancient Acropolis were traced in their entire circuit and the position of the gates ascertained. These fortifications were begun in late Roman times after the sack of Sparta by the Goths. Materials were discovered from the Agora and adjoining buildings, and many inscriptions were found built into the foundations. The front of the Greek theatre was incorporated in the defences, but the lower rows of seats are well preserved and the orchestra floor was reached at a depth of nineteen feet. The Greek city wall enclosed a far larger area, with a circuit of six miles. Since it was known that Sparta was originally a group of unwalled villages, one such site was explored on the right bank of the Eurotas; its lower strata yielded early geometric pottery. Other Greek remains were traced along the river bank for half a mile, including private houses of the simplest kind, a public building of massive masonry, and the famous sanctuary of Artemis Orthia. All these were enclosed by the city wall, dating from the third century B.C. A trial trench was made which brought to light some hundreds of lead figures, an inscription bearing the name Artemis Orthia and other objects, suggesting that the site of an important temple overlaid with Roman remains including a theatre-like structure. There were two principal strata determined: the older, characterised by geometric pottery and exquisitely carved ivories, extends to the seventh century B.C.; the later, which has yielded quantities of lead figurines and grotesque terracotta masks, ranges from the seventh to the fifth century. Upwards of fifty inscriptions found during the excavations record the names of boy victors. So important had the festival become in the third century AD that a permanent theatre-like building was constructed to seat the spectators. The complete exploration of the precinct of Artemis with its vast accumulation of votive offerings was deamed to require at least another season of excavation.

Active in 1906.

Dawkins, Mr Richard McGillivray

Dickins, Mr Guy

Tillyard, Professor Henry Julius Wetenhall

Wace, Mr Alan John Bayard

Droop, Professor John Percival

Traquair, Mr Ramsay

Evans, Sir Arthur John

[Journal] The Annual of the British School at Athens, no. 12 (1905/1906).

Bosanquet, Robert C., et al. 1906. Laconia: II. Excavations at Sparta, 1906. BSA 12: 277-479. Direct link