DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15680#0025
CHAPTER 1.
TUE EXKAVATION.1
§ 1.—Prdiminavy ümmdings and the Wall of Fortification.
The work was opened on the seaward slope of a conical mound which
used to be the single conspicuous landmark on the site. In this mound a
short length of primitive masonry had been revealed, perhaps after an earth-slip
following on wave erosion. This proved to be a portion of the inner face of
the great fortification wall, exposed at a point very near its soiith-western
angle. Tops of otlier walls also appeared to the north and east.
Mr. Mackenzie began with Iiis small gang, on May 7th, 1896, to make
a shiking into the talus some littlo distance back from the cliff edge, and
found himself at once in a small chamber (B 5 : 18),2 whose walls continued
downwards. The rock was reacbed at last at nearly four metres depth.
Painted wäre was obtained down to two metres, and only scanty and indis-
tinctive sherds below; bnt the lowest layer of deposit, underlying some of
the walls, was found to be largely composed of obsidian cores and flakes,
evidently the refuse of a prehistoric factory. The occurrence of a cross wall,
greatly ruined and resting actually on rock, warned the explorers thus early
fchat two periods of construction at least had left their traces on the site.
Work on this seaward slope was continued, thereafter, on a system of
removing the earth in layers, and several rooms were excavated in what we
now know to be the south-west angle of the town; bat not all coinpletely in
this season, the object of the exploration being to gather general evidence of
the character and worth of the site. To obtain obsidian the northern part
of B 5 was probed to the rock ; to obtain pottery, the Chambers in A 5 and B 5
were opened out. Only one fairly complete vase with any decoration was found,
and that in the fivst chamber opened (B 5 : 18); and though this was of fully
developed Mycenaean character, it lay within a foot of the rock. But levels
were little to be relied on at this point, since not only had the breaking away
1 [Jn compiling tliis chapter I have made
great use of Mr. D. Slackenzie's notebooks,
which contain the only continuous reeord ol' tlie
excavation of Phylakopi. This chapter has
also been revised by him, but he is not to be
lield responsable for tlie views expressed in it,
especially tbose regardiug the question of the
eastward continuation of tlie fortification, the
excavation of which I personally directed.]
2 Where not otherwise specified the number-
ing refers to the Plan, Plate II.
TUE EXKAVATION.1
§ 1.—Prdiminavy ümmdings and the Wall of Fortification.
The work was opened on the seaward slope of a conical mound which
used to be the single conspicuous landmark on the site. In this mound a
short length of primitive masonry had been revealed, perhaps after an earth-slip
following on wave erosion. This proved to be a portion of the inner face of
the great fortification wall, exposed at a point very near its soiith-western
angle. Tops of otlier walls also appeared to the north and east.
Mr. Mackenzie began with Iiis small gang, on May 7th, 1896, to make
a shiking into the talus some littlo distance back from the cliff edge, and
found himself at once in a small chamber (B 5 : 18),2 whose walls continued
downwards. The rock was reacbed at last at nearly four metres depth.
Painted wäre was obtained down to two metres, and only scanty and indis-
tinctive sherds below; bnt the lowest layer of deposit, underlying some of
the walls, was found to be largely composed of obsidian cores and flakes,
evidently the refuse of a prehistoric factory. The occurrence of a cross wall,
greatly ruined and resting actually on rock, warned the explorers thus early
fchat two periods of construction at least had left their traces on the site.
Work on this seaward slope was continued, thereafter, on a system of
removing the earth in layers, and several rooms were excavated in what we
now know to be the south-west angle of the town; bat not all coinpletely in
this season, the object of the exploration being to gather general evidence of
the character and worth of the site. To obtain obsidian the northern part
of B 5 was probed to the rock ; to obtain pottery, the Chambers in A 5 and B 5
were opened out. Only one fairly complete vase with any decoration was found,
and that in the fivst chamber opened (B 5 : 18); and though this was of fully
developed Mycenaean character, it lay within a foot of the rock. But levels
were little to be relied on at this point, since not only had the breaking away
1 [Jn compiling tliis chapter I have made
great use of Mr. D. Slackenzie's notebooks,
which contain the only continuous reeord ol' tlie
excavation of Phylakopi. This chapter has
also been revised by him, but he is not to be
lield responsable for tlie views expressed in it,
especially tbose regardiug the question of the
eastward continuation of tlie fortification, the
excavation of which I personally directed.]
2 Where not otherwise specified the number-
ing refers to the Plan, Plate II.