www.alonissos.com

The Tsoukalia ancient pottery shop
Tsoukalia Archaeological project (1999-2000)
TSOUKALIA

Effie F. Athanasopoulos (ASCS) reports on the results of the first field season of the project “Amphora production, agriculture and trade: the Alonissos archaeological project”.

In this research project our goal is to address the broader archaeological and historical issues to which the analysis of amphora's can contribute. We suggest that the amphora workshop at Tsoukalia was part of an organized estate and a major element within the agricultural system of Ikos (anc. Alonissos). This project is taking place in a region of Greece where very little archaeological research has been undertaken thus far, so it will generate new important information related to agricultural production, manufacturing technologies and the organization of trade.

The goals of the first season were to assess the significance of the surface material, to carry out a geographical survey in order to locate surviving buried structures and to develop a plan for the coming seasons. Our results in some detail:

One of our main goals was to survey and map the site of Tsoukalia and document the visible archaeological remains. We were able to accomplish that task to a satisfactory degree, using a total station connected to a data collector. We took measurements for a large number of points that represent scatters of pottery surface, visible features, modern structures, roads, drainage areas, etc. We downloaded these data into a laptop and produced a detailed map in AutoCAD while we were still in the field, so we able to correct errors and improve the accuracy of the map by producing it “on site”. This base map will be added to and improved in coming field seasons. We include a partial view of the map in this report.

A second goal was to record and map the dense surface scatter of ceramics associated with the operation of the amphora production facility. The site was divided into eight different sectors representing somewhat distinct scatters of artifacts and also following topographical or other barriers (e.g. road, drainage). Some of the dense concentrations of artifacts are located in the lower portion of the hillside, close to the seaside. In sector I there is dense ceramic material which is eroding out of the hillside. To a large extent this area has been disturbed by souvenir-seekers who have dug several holes in the clearings between the dense vegetation. The more recent holes have produced very large pieces of discarded amphora's. In general, these scatters have been repeatedly picked by visitors and contain few well preserved handles, bases and other featured sherds. Still, we believe that the systematic documentation of these scatters can provide very useful information.

The most dense part of the surface scatter in sector I represents an area of 12 X 12m. This was divided into a grid of 3X3m squares, a total of 16. The ceramics in each square were sorted, counted and weighed. We also took measurements of rim diameter, approximate handle size and the range of variation in fabric. Some squares in sector I produced a very large amount of material, for example square 5 had over 5000 ceramic pieces. The same procedures were followed in sector III, where an area of 6X6m was studied. The concentration in sector III resulted from hole-digging by visitors-it is quite fresh and has produced very large fragments of broken amphora's. We were not able to extend the systematic surface recording to sector II due to time constraints. Sector II contains a very large pottery dump, a portion of which has been significantly disturbed (see below). This area will be studied in our next field season.

On the basis of the information we are collecting we will be to document the forms present at the site, along with a statistical breakdown of their relative frequency. It is clear that amphora's represent the overwhelming majority of discarded vessels. There is a small number of open vessels (lekanai?) that could have been used in the production process (e.g. to hold water) and were probably also manufactured at Tsoukalia. There is a minuscule amount of fine pottery represented by two small bg sherds, probably from skyphoi. In addition, the weight figures will provide an estimate of the number of discarded amphora's represented in these piles. In order to accomplish that we will try to obtain weight data from similar types of amphora's that have survived intact. (e.g. Peristera shipwreck). Overall, we expect that this information will help us develop a better understanding of aspects related to the size, volume and duration of the operation of the amphora workshop and will provide the basis for future comparative studies. We expect that through this systematic documentation we will be able to establish the nature of the patterning observed in surface materials.

The surface survey will also address the patterning and modifications that have affected the distribution of archaeological materials. This is particularly the casen sector II, a dense ceramic concentration we call the large pottery dumb. This large pottery dump has been repeatedly disturbed in the last decade. There is a variety of cultural transformation processes responsible for this drastic modification of surface materials at Tsoukalia. In the first place most of the archaeological material became exposed because Tsoukalia has been an area where, in the past, the locals would dig to obtain sand for building purposes. Then the sherds themselves were systematically removed from the site and re-used for building the interior of the domes of the ovens in the local houses, a practice which to a limited degree continues today – a local taverna owner was very proud to show me the new oven we had built using sherds from Tsoukalia. The locals were quick to recognize the heat-retaining properties of the sherds and made extensive use of them in the past. Today most of the material that is removed from the site is taken by tourists and other visitors as souvenirs. Also several local hotels and businesses display bottoms of amphoras or complete handles as decoration. They are valued because they are local products of Alonissos and as such are displayed with pride. It is interesting, though, that most local people consider them to be recent in date than ancient. The folklore of the site is that all this material was produced in the earlier part of the century, by “Barba-Lykourgos”, the owner of a brick operation at Tsoukalia that is discussed below. It seems that this myth has protected the site from more invasive hole digging and further destruction.

We also learned that one of the local landowners used a bulldozer to dig a well in the middle of the large pottery dump some 4-5 years ago. He said that he dug to a depth of 4-5m but was disappointed because he kept finding broken ceramics and eventually gave up. This has been useful information in order to understand the changes in the appearance of the pottery dump in the last decade.

Having in mind all these activities and also the attention that the presence of archaeologists has brought to Tsoukalia, we decided to collect a portion of the surface material to protect it from disappearing. So, at the end of the season the diagnostic material from the areas we studied was collected: it includes handles, rims and vases (a total of 25 boxes) These were stored in place provided by the Mayor of Alonissos. The remaining surface ceramics were left in place. A limited number of finds was transported to the Museum of Volos by Mrs Intzesiloglou. These were diagnostic sherds that need to be drawn and photographed, and among them were four stamped amphora handles with the inscription IKION: the first examples of stamped handles we have from Tsoukalia.

Another task from this season was to clear dense vegetation from portions of the site, necessary for the areas that we selected from investigation with geophysical techniques. We were then able to make observations about a later period of use of the site, most probably a brief period in the 1920’s when a small brick factory was operating there. This was known to us from oral information from several older inhabitants. However, we had not been able to confirm such activities up to now because most of the dense surface material is related to the amphora production workshop rather than the brick factory. In any case, according to these amounts the facility was producing bricks and roof tiles, but it was in operation for a brief period of time. It seems that the products were not of high quality and the brick facility ceased its operation after only a few years.

After clearing the dense bushes we found several pieces of bricks and a few roof tiles. Some of the bricks were stamped with the initials of the owner of the brick operation. We collected several and plan to use them in comparative studies of the fabric and the clay sources that may be identified in the vicinity of Tsoukalia in coming seasons. After we found proof of the existence of the brick factory we carried out more interviews inquiring about the location of specific facilities, including a lime kiln, sheep-pen and other structures linked to the pastoral use of the area in the recent past.

Another goal was to initiate the study of the geology of the area and select ceramic samples for petrographic and chemical analysis. Ian Whitbread of the Fitch Laboratory (BSA) spent three days on the island, collecting some samples that could provide information on potential sources of clay in the vicinity of the site. He also selected 30 samples from the surface ceramics at Tsoukalia that will be analyzed in the Fitch Laboratory.

The geophysical investigations were carried out by Apostolos Sarris and his team, using a variety of methods and equipment (fluxgate gradiometer, caesium gradiometer, electromagnetics) to produce a map of the subsurface in order to locate possible remnants of the installations of the amphora workshop. The preliminary results are very encouraging. There is a strucure of significant proportions (20 X 5m) at an approximate depth of 1m. It has produced a very strong signal and Dr Sarris suggests that this could be a kiln structure. Additional geophysical survey with other instruments (e.g. ground penetrating radar) could provide further information and a three dimensional profile of the structure. At the moment it is unclear if that structure is indeed part of the amphora workshop. Only excavation can determine the precise character and function of the building.

So far we cannot identify with certainty the location of the kiln(s) of the workshop. It could be the structure identified by Dr Sarris’ team but there is also the possibility that we have several kilns at the site, judging from the volume of the discarded material. First of all, we believe that a kiln must have been located near the large pottery dump, and a likely place is a visible circular depression next to the sheep pen where our informants have said that the kiln of the brick factory was located (marked as a “possible kiln” on fig.98 sector IV). The surface indications are consistent with such a use: in the immediate vicinity there is baked clay and fragments of tile and brick embedded in it. It is also interesting to note that according to the oral accounts, the brick-factory re-used the old facilities. If indeed the amphora workshop kiln was located there and was re-used by the brick-making operation, its original configuration has probably seen substantially modified. The area is heavily disturbed, and thus the magnetometer will probably not be able to provide useful data.

A preliminary study was undertaken by Dr Evangelos Kabouroglou, a geomorphologist, of the Emporate of Spelaeology. He is interested in reconstructing coastline changes in Alonissos in the past, including the C period when the amphora workshop was in operation. He found evidence for multiple layers of preserved beach rock in the area near Tsoukalia and noted that the dense scatter of broken amphora's continues in the small bay and covers a sizeable area that is now underwater. Dr Kabouroglou is certain that the sea-level has risen since classical times and that there has been considerable seismic activity in the area. At this point it is not clear how localized or island-wide were the changes in the coastline.

The Mayor has already succeeded in fencing the site. We have agreed that the final goal should be to organize Tsoukalia as an open archaeological site open to the public and to organize electronic exhibits that would provide reconstruction of the activities of the amphora workshop.

Bibliography: ARCHAEOLOGY IN GREECE 1999-2000/Effie F. Athanasopoulos