Elli Tzavella | Hellenic Ministry of Culture (original) (raw)

Books by Elli Tzavella

Byzantine Attica. An Archaeology of Settlement and Landscape (4th-12th centuries), 2024

This book offers an archaeological, geographical and historical discussion of human settlement an... more This book offers an archaeological, geographical and historical discussion of human settlement and activity in the Greek region of Attica during Early and Middle Byzantine times (4th to 12th centuries). In contrast to the Byzantine monuments in urban Athens, the remains of Byzantine life in rural Attica outside the renowned city have not enjoyed much scholarly attention until now. For the first time Byzantine Attica sets out to present a true regional study of Attica as a key area for understanding the transformation of the ancient Roman world to its Medieval successor in the eastern Mediterranean.
Located at a crossroads for land and maritime communications, this region had a heritage of a complex administrative organization as well as multifaceted cultural and religious traditions as it participated in the broader historical developments of the transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages in the Aegean and beyond. Moreover, from a scholarly perspective Attica stands out due to the intensive field research which has taken place in the region, starting in the 19th century and culminating since the 1960s in both systematic studies and a multitude of rescue excavations. The never before
methodically inventoried data of this research form the backbone of the present volume. However, this study offers more than a groundbreaking gazetteer of Early and Middle Byzantine sites in Attica, as it also discusses settlement patterns, road communications, defensive works, religious activities and burial habits in the region between the the 4th and 12th centuries. As a major contribution to the understanding of human activity in Attica after Antiquity, this book shows the potential of longue durée
regional studies for the history and archaeology of the Byzantine period in the eastern Mediterranean.

Early Christianity in Athens, Attica and adjacent areas. From Paul to Justinian I (1st - 6th c. AD), 2023

The subseries 'Early Christianity in Greece' (ECG), of which this is the first volume to be publi... more The subseries 'Early Christianity in Greece' (ECG), of which this is the first volume to be published, is part of the series 'Ancient Judaism and Early Christian ity' (AJEC). Within ECG, this book strives to present the extant literary, epigraphical, and archaeological evidence on the rise, expansion, and characteristics of Christianity in Athens, Attica, and adjacent areas until the end of the reign of Justinian I in 565. It focuses on and presents the available evidence from the area as accessible, complete, and as practically as possible, based on literary sources, archaeology, and epigraphy.

Papers by Elli Tzavella

Brepols Publishers eBooks, 2023

This volume brings together archaeologists, archaeological scientists and historians contributing... more This volume brings together archaeologists, archaeological scientists and historians contributing different specialisms to an emerging field of research: food and foodways in the medieval Eastern Mediterranean. It presents the output of the POMEDOR project “People, pottery and food in the medieval Eastern Mediterranean” funded by the French National Research Agency. POMEDOR focused on changes in transitional periods, such as the Crusades and the Turkish conquests, as viewed through archaeological and archaeometric studies of pottery. The volume offers a wider scope, with research based on archaeobotany, archaeozoology, biological anthropology, and the study of archaeological structures, texts and iconography. Last but not least, it reveals the recipes conceived for a “Byzantine” dinner, held at the Paul Bocuse Institute during the final conference of the POMEDOR project.Dans ce volume, archéologues, archéomètres et historiens contribuent par différentes approches à un domaine de recherche émergent : les pratiques alimentaires en Méditerranée orientale médiévale. Il présente les résultats du programme ANR POMEDOR « Populations, poteries et alimentation en Méditerranée orientale médiévale », qui abordait l’évolution de ces pratiques lors de périodes de transition, telles que les croisades ou les conquêtes turques, principalement au travers d’études archéologiques et archéométriques de céramiques. Cet ouvrage couvre un champ plus large, incluant l’archéozoologie, l’archéobotanique, l’anthropologie biologique, l’étude des structures archéologiques, des textes et de l’iconographie. Enfin, il dévoile les recettes conçues pour un dîner « byzantin » clôturant le programme POMEDOR, organisé à l’Institut Paul Bocuse

Byzantine Greece: Microcosm of Empire? Papers from the 46th Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies, 2024

Early Byzantine Attica has attracted the attention of archaeologists, historians and art historia... more Early Byzantine Attica has attracted the attention of archaeologists, historians and art historians for numerous decades. Research has focused on the urban arrangement of the Athenian Agora, defence, and Early Christian basilicas. Recently, a large number of intensive excavations and surface archaeological surveys have offered an influx of evidence regarding settlement.
The present chapter is based on a systematic collection of the available archaeological and historical evidence regarding Early Byzantine settlement in Attica. Regional studies have often acknowledged the necessity to focus on all different levels of settlement, versus only the 'city', or the bipolar scheme 'city-village', in order to understand the functional relationships between administration, economy, and the natural environment.

On the Edge of a Roman Port. Excavations at Koutsongila, Kenchreai, 2007–2014 (Hesperia Suppl. 52), 2022

worked tirelessly to coordinate and to enhance this network in support of our educational program... more worked tirelessly to coordinate and to enhance this network in support of our educational program. We greatly appreciate the consistent effort of many colleagues and students. Our large team, linking people of diverse ages and backgrounds who contributed in both field and laboratory (see the Appendix for a roster), was a model of focus and industry. We thank the Greek team of excavators under the direction of Elena Korka, including the archaeologists Paraskevi

12th Congress AIECM3 on Medieval and Modern Period Mediterranean Ceramics, pp. 450-458, 2021

This paper presents finds from a rescue excavation at Orionos Street (2007) in the coastal city o... more This paper presents finds from a rescue excavation at Orionos Street (2007) in the coastal city of Chalkis on the island of Euboea. Remains of building structures were unearthed, which seem to have functioned as a dump for several workshops during Byzantine times. The excavated material included large amounts of ceramic finds, potter’s tools, overfired sherds and wasters, as well as significant quantities of bone, shell, metal and glass finds. These finds were processed between 2013-2016. The initial research has already yielded interesting insights in the development of local pottery production in Chalkis during Middle and Late Byzantine/Frankish times (ca. 10th-13th c.).

in: P. di Vingo, Y.A. Marano, & J. Pinar Gil (eds.), Sepolture di prestigio nel bacino Mediterraneo (secoli IV-IX), pp. 515-534, 2021

Prestigio, privilegi e normalità. Archeologia funeraria rurale nel complesso monumentale paleocri... more Prestigio, privilegi e normalità. Archeologia funeraria rurale nel complesso monumentale paleocristiano di Costa Balenae a Riva Ligure. .. .. .. .. .. . Paolo de Vingo La planification du repos éternel dans le Centre-Nord de l'Italie entre le X e et le XI e siècle. Continuité et discontinuité dans les traditions funéraires aristocratiques du haut Moyen Âge .

in: H. Saradi (ed.), Byzantine Athens. Proceedings of a Conference, October 21-23, 2016, pp. 154-169, 2021

Y. Waksman (ed.), Multidisciplinary approaches to food and foodways in the medieval Eastern Mediterranean Archéologie(s) 4, MOM Éditions, Lyon, pp. 255-273, 2020

The medieval city of Corinth (Greece) was one of the first to be studied in relation to the compa... more The medieval city of Corinth (Greece) was one of the first to be studied in relation to the comparative study of food and foodways. These studies have so far been carried out by the American School of Classical Studies and are focused on the area of the Forum, which was occupied by a commercial and domestic quarter during the 12th, 13th and early 14th centuries. The Forum has provided evidence for occupation by Frankish as well as Greek populations. Today it is possible to compare the Forum evidence with ceramic finds recovered from rescue excavations by the local Archaeological Department of the Greek Ministry of Culture in various quarters of the city. This contribution is a first attempt towards this end. It presents ceramic finds of the 12th and 13th centuries found in the Koutsougera plot, at the western border of the area “Kraneion”, east of the Forum. There is no historical evidence that attests to the ethnic
identity of the residents of this area, thus all conclusions rely on archaeological evidence. The first results show that the residents of this area made choices similar to those of the Forum residents in regard to the purchase and use of pottery. At the same time, however, there are marked differences, which the present paper attempts to explore.

Y. Lolos (ed.), Sikyon I - The Urban Survey, pp. 288-307, 2021

in: Y. Lolos (ed.), Sikyon I - The Urban Survey, pp. 270-286., 2021

in: Y. Lolos (ed.), Sikyon I - The Urban Survey, pp. 234-270, 2021

What's New in Roman Greece? Recent Work on the Greek Mainland and the Islands in the Roman Period., 2019

Our present understanding of Roman Greece owes a lot to the vast amounts of data that has been co... more Our present understanding of Roman Greece owes a lot to the vast amounts of data that has been collected and analysed in connection to archaeological surveys. Located on a fortified triangular plateau on the southern shore of the Corinthian gulf, the naturally delineated and largely undeveloped urban area of modern Sikyon presented ideal conditions for an archaeological survey of the Hellenistic and Roman city. Located only about 20 km up the coast, Sikyon was the closest substantial ancient polis to Corinth. As a result of this proximity, both cities had a relationship characterized by their shared, oft-entangled histories, especially as regards the Roman conquest of peninsular Greece. Indeed, the deficiency, or at very least, the severe reduction of Corinth’s political and economic influence in the century following its destruction by the Romans in 146 BC, led to a redefinition and even expansion of the economic and political roles of the cities in the NE Peloponnese – the main economic artery into and out of southern Greece. As one of these cities, Sikyon was a non-exceptional place: it was not a regional capital, nor was it sacked or colonized by the Romans. Still, the combination of very high-resolution survey data, stratified finds from excavations, historical texts, numismatics, and the epigraphical record from Sikyon affords us a rare and valuable window through which to explore an ordinary Greek city during Late Republican and Early Imperial times. This paper draws mainly on our analysis of ceramics of Early and Middle Roman date (ca. 1st BC-4th AD) from The Sikyon Survey Project (University of Thessaly, 2004 - present) – one of the largest intensive urban surveys ever conducted in the Mediterranean – and from finds uncovered during rescue excavations within the intramural area of the ancient city. As such, we are able to present a long-term diachronic picture of the city as a whole, calibrated through the chronologically stratified remains of Roman Sikyon. Through this multifaceted approach, this paper presents four main topics: the layout and spatial delineation of the Roman city of Sikyon; an economic picture of the city as relates to ceramics production and trade; daily life in Roman Sikyon; and some preliminary regional observations and implications of our data from Sikyon, both in terms of the economies of the Corinthian Gulf, and in the NE Peloponnese more generally.

Τὸ 2018 συνεχίστηκαν γιὰ πέμπτη καὶ τελευταία χρονιὰ οἱ ἐργασίες τοῦ πενταετοῦς προγράμματος μελέ... more Τὸ 2018 συνεχίστηκαν γιὰ πέμπτη καὶ τελευταία χρονιὰ οἱ ἐργασίες τοῦ πενταετοῦς προγράμματος μελέτης καὶ δημοσίευσης τῶν προϊστορι κῶν Τύμβων Βρανᾶ Μαραθῶνος, οἱ ὁποῖοι ἀνεσκάφησαν ἀπὸ τὸν Σπ. Μα ρινᾶτο. Ἡ μελέτη διεξήχθη ὑπὸ τὴ διεύθυνση τῆς ὁμότιμης καθηγή τριας τοῦ Πανεπιστημίου Ἀθηνῶν κυρίας Μαρίας Παντελίδου Γκόφα, καὶ τοὺς μό νιμους ἐπιστημονικοὺς συνεργάτες τοῦ προγράμματος, ἀρχαιολόγους Gilles Touchais 1 , Ἄννα ΦίλιππαTouchais 2 καὶ Νίκο Παπαδημητρίου 3 .

Πεπραγμένα 12ου Διεθνούς Κρητολογικού Συνεδρίου, https://12iccs.proceedings.gr/el/proceedings/category/38/33/765, 2019

Η ανασκαφή Η θέση Πρινιάτικος Πύργος βρίσκεται κοντά στο Ίστρον, στον μυχό του κόλπου του Μιραμπέ... more Η ανασκαφή Η θέση Πρινιάτικος Πύργος βρίσκεται κοντά στο Ίστρον, στον μυχό του κόλπου του Μιραμπέλλου της ανατολικής Κρήτης (Εικ. 1). Γνωστή αρχαιολογικώς από τις αρχές του 20ού αι., ανασκά φηκε εκ νέου από το Ιρλανδικό Ινστιτούτο Ελληνικών Σπουδών (2005-2011). Ο αρχικός στόχος της ανασκαφής ήταν η αποκάλυψη των μινωικών στρωμάτων. Ωστόσο τα ανώτερα στρώματα έφεραν στο φως Πρινιάτικος Πύργος, ένα λιμάνι της ανατολικής Κρήτης. Οι μαρτυρίες των αμφορέων της μεταβατικής περιόδου (7ος-9ος αι.): Μία πρώτη προσέγγιση Abstract Crete, an island located centrally in the eastern Mediterranean, was lost from the Byzantines to the Arabs in the 820s and remained under Arab control until 961. The traditional view is that, even before this period, namely in the later 7th and the 8th centuries, maritime trade had collapsed due to the Arab attacks. Recent research at the site of Priniatikos Pyrgos, a harbour on the north coast of eastern Crete in the Gulf of Mirambello, revealed finds which strongly contradict this traditional view. Excavation by the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies (2006-2010) unearthed architectural remains of rooms adjacent to each other, associated with very large quantities of amphorae which can be securely dated from the later 7th to the early 9th century based on typological parallels, a coin and a lead seal of the 8th century. The large quantity of amphorae appears to be associated with the specific role of the site, and especially with the excavated buildings. It is noteworthy that the amphorae are typologically coherent, but their fabrics show great variety. This suggests that the amphorae originate from various areas, which have to be sought both in and outside Crete. Based on the above, the harbour at Priniatikos Pyrgos appears to have been involved in seaborne trade during the later 7th, the 8th and the early 9th century, the period traditionally believed to be characterized by cessation of maritime trade. Priniatikos Pyrgos, however, was not an exception: similar cases have been discussed recently based on finds from Naxos, Chios, islands of the Dodecanese such as Kos, and other sites of the Aegean. These finds set eastern Crete within the network of regions which remained economically active, and on which the Byzantine Empire relied economically for its own survival. Λεξεισ Κλειδια: Κρήτη, Άραβες, 8ος αιώνας, βυζαντινοί αμφορείς, βυζαντινή κεραμική, Ίστρον, κόλπος Μιραμπέλλου, Άγιος Νικόλαος, εμπόριο, θαλάσσιες επικοινωνίες

J. Crow and D. Hill (eds.), Naxos and the Byzantine Aegean: Insular Responses to Regional Change, 2018

A small church was excavated on top of the islet Dhaskalio, off Keros, in 1963. Excavation in 200... more A small church was excavated on top of the islet Dhaskalio, off Keros, in 1963. Excavation in 2006-2008 yielded ceramic and glass finds datable towards the end of the Early Byzantine period, which attest to the period of use of the church. The paper presents these finds and discusses the role of the church on this barren and remote island, including its possible function as a marker for navigation.

Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στην Πελοπόννησο (ΑΕΠΕΛ 1), 2018

Δημοσίευση κεραμικής της μεσοβυζαντινής περιόδου από το οικόπεδο Γ. Κουτσούγερα (ανασκαφή 25ης ΕΒ... more Δημοσίευση κεραμικής της μεσοβυζαντινής περιόδου από το οικόπεδο Γ. Κουτσούγερα (ανασκαφή 25ης ΕΒΑ) και σχολιασμός.