The Olynthos Project Geophysical Survey 2014-2019: Season 2014
Survey: Geophysical survey
Geophysical survey was conducted to locate areas for excavation and to devise appropriate methodology for investigating and mapping buried remains. Data were collected both inside and outside the known city area in order to define the extent of past activity and observe differences between on- and off-site measurements. Initial results reveal some fifteen houses almost completely preserved, plus partial plans of a further fifteen (the remainder lying beyond the survey area): compacted floor layers are suggested by contrasts in measurements inside and outside these buildings. The regular street grid continued to the north and east of the main area of David Robinson’s 1928–1938 excavation, although in the northern part of the survey area, close to the edge of the hill, structures backing onto a probable perimeter wall are differently aligned. The magnetic data reveal areas of intense burning or other fired features (e.g. hearths). Fewer anomalies in the northeast area of the North Hill may indicate less intense occupation or different construction, although a number of intense magnetic responses suggest the presence of burned or fired material. The supposed fortification wall on the east side of the North Hill appeared as a linear feature in the magnetometer survey. Trial trenches were opened to explore certain features indicated in the geophysics data, including two of the new residential units on the North Hill and the supposed fortification wall. One of Robinson’s trenches was also reinvestigated in order to assess surviving evidence in and around it and facilitate comparison of field methodologies.
Active in 2014.