Papers of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (5.1886-1890)

DISCOVERIES AT PLATAIA.

269

stance that it is covered with potsherds, broken tiles, and small stones,
while to the east, on both sides of and between the two ravines, the
soil is deep and fertile.

Apart from the ruined churches, there are few objects of interest
above ground on the plateau. East of D, in the southwest, there is
cut in the rock what is probably a threshold, lacing west, 2 m. in
length. Beyond this, to the east, there is a semicircular area in the
rocks, some 15 to 20 m. across ; and about 3 m. lower than this, to the
north, there is a similar area. Both areas are level and apparently
made by the hand of man. Southeast of Church No. IV, appear what
are called on the map, "Votive Cuttings." These consist of seven or
eight small rectangular holes or niches cut in the rock for the recep-
tion of votive or other tablets. To the south of them is a small level
plateau, with some roughly hewn M all-stones. The wall to the east
of Church No. IVis a very well built and preserved one of rubble and
mortar. It is 32 m. long by 1.15 wide, and runs almost due north
and south. To the south of this extends in the same line a series of
eight square piers, 1.15 m. square, of the same materials, the first one
distant 15.40 m. from the south end of the wall. The first seven piers
are uniformly distant from one another 1.75 in., and from the spacing
we judge that four are probably missing between the seventh and
eighth remaining piers. Xo traces are left above ground of any wall
to the south, but the broad level space to the east of the wall makes it
seem probable that a large building, or some such feature as an agora,
once existed here.

There are four springs and brooks in the immediate vicinity of the
plateau, besides the two very small ones in the northeast part. One
brook on the east side rises in a spring a short distance due south of P*
and flows northerly along the whole east side, at a distance from the
wall varying from 20 to 100 m. The brook on the west begins at a
point southwest of the older wall, flows northwest, is joined by the
water from Megale Brysis, below O, and thence flows to the north-
west away from the city into the Oeroe. Some 250 m. to the east of
the plateau is another spring called Kondati, where are two inscrip-
tions and some architectural fragments. Between this and the brook-
to the east of the walls is a ridge on which are the ruins of a small
church and a number of large hewn blocks.

On the -whole plateau there is a remarkable lack of white marble.
The pieces remaining are confined almost entirely to the ruined By-