Paliambela Excavation 2000-2002
Fieldwork:
The main aim of the Paliembela excavation was to to test preservation of architecture and and occupation area on the NW and N parts of the site and along the S and SE of the mound to explore the ditches/walls that were indicated by a geophysical survey. Fragements of Early Late Neolithic cobbles were found as well as many yard finds, however, these were heavily disrupted by Byantine burials. the MN ditch was deeper and wider than suspected and had apparently been filled in with a care exceeding practical requirements; it seems that the creation and re-shaping of these boundary features was an activity of considerable significance to the inhabitants of Neolithic Paliambela. The s trenches yielded further fragmentary walls of probably domestic character and a section of niore massive wall, which probably represents an additional LN enclosure wall.A sounding was completed in the middle of the mound and the experimental heating and quenching was also undertaken to explore whether cracked cobbles might represent 'pot-boilers' from cooking. As well as this a local potter was used in experiements on Neolithic firing techniques and local villagers were questioned about the ways in which the land had changed in the 20th century. A wealth of finds included pots with human faces in relief and a rare Neolithic gold 'ring idol'. A few vessels bear traces of repair or internal coating with a resinous substance, similar to that identified as birch tar at nearby Makrigialos.
Active from Aug 2000 to Sep 2002.
Paliambela Excavation 2000-2002 (Fieldwork)
Paliambela Excavation 2000-2002: Season 2000 (Excavation)Paliambela Excavation 2000-2002: Season 2001 (Excavation)
Paliambela Excavation 2000-2002: Season 2002 (Excavation)