Methana Survey 1982-1987: Season 1985
Survey: Systematic fieldwalking survey
In August and September a team from the University of Liverpool, led by Mr H. Forbes and Dr C. B. Mee, undertook a first season of intensive survey on Methana. Attention focused on the cultivated terraces around Megalochori and Kamenochori in the west and Kypseli, A Theodoroi, Kounoupitsa and Ayios Nikolaos in the east and north. A total of 55 sites were recorded, only six of which had been known previously, Numerous Early Helladic settlements were located but there is a reduction in the number of sites during the Middle and Late Helladic periods. Geometric and Archaic finds come from the principal classical settlement sites - Palaiokastro, Oga and Magoula - but an Archaic shrine and temple were also noted. In the Classical - Hellenistic period Methana was evidently quite densely inhabited for there is settlement at high elevations, but possibly as a result of the volcanic eruption during the third century BC the Roman period has proved less productive. This trend is reversed during the Late Roman period but once again there is a decline during the Byzantine period.
Active in 1985.