Di Cesare R., G. Sarcone 2021, Il santuario dell'acropoli e l'abitato classico-ellenistico di Efestia (Lemno). Scavi e ricerche del 2021, in "Annuario della Scuola Archeologica di Atene e delle Missioni Italiane in Oriente", vol. 99, Tomo II, pp. 98-145. (original) (raw)

Archaeological research in 2021 on the archaic acropolis of Hephaestia and in the quarter located W of it, in the adjoining natural valley, led to the acquisition of new data on the settlement history from the Early Iron Age to the Late Roman period. The activities focused on three areas. 1) On the acropolis plateau an open-air area between the Building with votive deposit and the ce􏰀ntral complex of the sa􏰀nctuary (7th-6th ce􏰀nturies BC) was 􏰀newly excavated. Remai􏰀s of archaic walls a􏰀d a large terracotta pithos embedded in the rocky bank have been documented. The archaeological data indicate that this area was already settled before the sanctuary was built. 2) In the Building with votive deposit, room H, an uncovered space joined to the lower rooms of the building, was Iinvestigated. I􏰀nside this space, a thick layer of earth a􏰀d rubbish was excavated down􏰀 to the steeply slopi􏰀ng rocky ba􏰀nk, attesti􏰀ng to a settlement phase of the Early Iron Age (second half of the 11th to the end of the 8th/beginning of the 7th centuries BC) preceding the construction of the Building with votive deposit. The large amount of fragmentary pottery includes protogeometric amphoras and three most represented ceramic classes: grey ware (with beige and brown/red variant), geometric and coarse ware. In the same layers millsto􏰀es a􏰀d pestles, an􏰀imal bon􏰀es a􏰀d malacological fi􏰀nds related to meal remai􏰀ns were also foun􏰀d. The source of this material is probably a settlement located uphill. 3) In the area to the W of the Building with votive deposit, an area of more than 600 mq was excavated a􏰀nd a 􏰀new quarter of the city from the classical a􏰀d Helle􏰀nistic period (5th-1st centuries BC) was discovered. Beneath the thick modern􏰀 arable soil, a􏰀n extends􏰀sive layer of debris with sto􏰀es, bricks a􏰀d fragme􏰀ntary pottery covers a series of structures a􏰀d corresponds to a phase of spoliation and abandonment, after the last sporadic frequentation of the area in the 4th-7th centuries AD.