The settlement at DhaskalioEdited by Colin Renfrew, Olga Philaniotou, Neil Brodie, Giorgos Gavalas & Michael J. Boyd

The sanctuary on Keros and the origins of Aegean ritual practice: the excavations of 2006–2008Volume I

ISBN: 978-1-902937-64-9ISSN: 1363-1349 (McDonald Institute)

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Chapter 8The Byzantine Chapel and its Finds

Elli Tzavella

How to cite this chapter:Tzavella, E., 2013. The Byzantine chapel and its finds, in The Settlement at Dhaskalio, eds. C. Renfrew, O. Philaniotou, N. Brodie, G. Gavalas & M.J. Boyd. (McDonald Institute Monographs.) Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, 87–91.

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Chapter 8

The Byzantine Chapel and its Finds

Elli Tzavella

four more vessels were collected. Sixteen more sherds which were collected from the same area are not dat-able, but both their fabric and their manufacturing technique are compatible with a chronology within the same period.

The cup C2410 is the only ceramic find from Dhaskalio which can provide a safe chronological indication for the use of the chapel. Its rather generic shape creates some uncertainty regarding its type and chronology. However, cups of similar shape and manufacture have been found on Samos and at Eleutherna (Crete); in both cases they appear as burial finds in graves which have been securely dated to the seventh century ad (Martini & Steckner 1993, 124, no. 3.1, fig. 37, pl. 16.1; Yangaki 2004, 135, no. 48.1, fig. 122a–b). A cup of similar shape, found in a stratigraphic context of the seventh–eighth centuries ad, was found in the cemetery of Perissa, Thera (Dafi 2005, 213, no. 1123, pl. 41f.).

The rim fragment C2420 (from Trench XV, some-what downslope from the other material discussed here, but found close to the surface) probably comes from an amphora and similarly hints towards a date late in the Early Byzantine period. An amphora rim with a similar shape, but made of a different fabric, was excavated in Perissa, Thera, in a context of the sixth to early eighth centuries ad (Dafi 2005, 108, no. 1413, pl. 22A). Amphorae with a broad cylindrical neck and plain vertical rim circulate in southern Greece and the Aegean in the sixth–eighth centuries ad (Reynolds 2003, 731, fig. 2.6; Boardman 1989, 109, no. 242, fig. 37; Diamanti 2010a, 73–109, figs. 88–121

— various examples of LRA2 and LRA13; Diamanti 2010b, 146–7, fig. 3.2; Bass & van Doorninck 1982, 157–60, fig. 8.4-5 – LRA13), but the known parallels are not close enough to the sherd from Dhaskalio to provide a secure chronology. The abundance of mica in the fabric and the soapy feel of the surface are reminiscent of the Middle Roman Amphora 3 / Late Roman Amphora 10 / ‘micaceous water jars’ (for the type see Riley 1979, 183–6 & 229–30). These amphorae

The Byzantine chapel on Dhaskalio was first exca-vated by Christos Doumas (Doumas 1964) as briefly described in Chapter 7. It was further explored in 2006 to 2008. The associated (although unstratified) finds permit an estimation of its date.

The building itself (Figs. 8.1 & 6.2) is a small single-aisled basilica. It measures 6.60 m in length and up to 4.40 m in width (at the western end). It narrows to 3.60 m in width at the eastern end before the apse. The walls are 0.40 m to 0.60 m in thickness (0.80 m in the apse), currently preserved to just above ground level. The walls are made of imported marble blocks despoiled from the surrounding remains of early bronze age buildings, probably mainly from those lying in the neighbouring excavation Trenches XXV, XXXV, XX and XXI.

The architecture of the chapel does not offer any safe chronological indication about the date of its construction. On this question Dr S. Mamaloukos and K. Aslanidis kindly offer the following observa-tion (pers. comm.):

The Byzantine architecture of the Cycladic islands does not follow the known trends of architecture in mainland Greece and Asia Minor and in many cases only wall paintings can provide safe chronological criteria. Our research on the architecture of Naxos has suggested that small single-aisled vaulted chapels are built from the eighth century until recent times. However, their size gradually diminishes and they become much more frequent in the course of time, especially during the Latin occupation (thirteenth-mid fifteenth centuries ad). The plan and dimensions of the Dhaskalio chapel match many such cases in Naxos and other Cycladic islands. However, a dating based only on the plan is impossible.

A few sherds of the later centuries of the Early Byzan-tine period (here defined as the fourth–seventh cen-turies ad), possibly continuing into the early part of the ‘Dark Age’ (transitional) period (eighth–ninth centuries ad), were uncovered during the examina-tion of the chapel. A cup (C2410) was the only vessel which was well preserved; diagnostic fragments of

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were produced in the east Aegean or western Asia Minor, perhaps somewhere between Ephesus and Sardis, and circulated widely in the Mediterranean (Arthur 1998, 165) from the second to the sixth cen-tury (for dated examples see Riley 1979; Robinson 1959, L50–51, M125–6, M240, M255–7, M282, M335; Slane & Sanders 2005, 263, nos. 2-27, 2-28, fig. 7). It is reasonable to suggest that the vessel to which the fragment C2420 belonged was produced in the east Aegean or western Asia Minor during the same period or, as the shape suggests, slightly later. An amphora with a vertical rim and broad neck and a large pitcher with a broad conical neck, both made of highly micaceous fabric, have been found in Corinth in a later seventh-century ad context, and have been attributed to an Asia Minor production (Slane & Sand-ers 2005, 278 & 285, nos. 4-24, 4-25, fig. 11). A further example of an almost vertical rim amphora fragment, made of highly micaceous fabric, has been found on Kythera, at Aghios Georgios sto Vouno, in a sev-enth- to eighth-century level (Poulou-Papademetriou forthcoming). Rather little is actually known about the many amphora types produced in Asia Minor and the Aegean during the fifth to seventh centuries ad.

It appears that minor productions satisfied the trans-port of small quantities of surplus produce (Arthur 1998, 166); the present fragment may belong to one such small production. Alternatively, the sherd might belong to a water pipe which served the needs of the church, but the small size of the building appears to weaken this hypothesis.

The amphora body fragments from Dhaskalio C2422 and C2423 were collected from Trench XXV, just north of the chapel, from layers 3 and 1 respectively. They have broad and shallow grooves on the exterior surface. The preservation only of body sherds pre-vents the identification of the exact type of amphora. However, this kind of broad groove appears often on amphorae throughout the Early Byzantine period, and slightly later. The shape and fabric of C2422 is also reminiscent of survival types of the LRA1 amphora, published from Pseira (Poulou-Papademetriou 2001, 261, fig. 22b).

A foot fragment of a glass oil-lamp was also found north of the chapel. The fragment was seen and described by the glass specialist Pavlos Triantafyllides. I would like to thank him for the following detailed description:

N

0 1 m

Figure 8.1. Plan of the Byzantine chapel.

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It is made of translucent greenish glass, and is pre-served to a maximum height of 45 mm. The foot is slightly conical, tubular, and preserves part of the knob shank in the lower part of the cup. The frag-mentary oil-lamp (κανδήλα) belongs with the glass lighting instruments used between the fourth and seventh centuries ad in churches, secular buildings and private residences. This is the most popular type of oil lamp; it has a calyx-shaped body with a con-cave base which has a strong thrust from the bottom to the interior and three-lugged handles on the tubu-lar rim (Triantafyllidis 2004, 39–45, 56, no. 2, pl. 3, fig. 2; Yelda Olcay 2001, 86–7, fig. 7; Hadad 1988, 64–8). Kανδήλες of this type belong with μονοκάνδηλα or multiple chandeliers, known in literary texts as candelae vitraeae ingentes. As for the workshop where these were produced, typological parallels have been found on Amorgos, on Naxos, at Perissa on Thera, on Leros, on Kos and on Rhodes; this suggests the presence of regional glass workshops in the Aegean, since wandering glassmakers during the Roman and the early Christian era went with their equipment according to the needs and orders of their clients.

It seems reasonable to connect the ceramic and glass finds from the summit area of Dhaskalio with the use of the chapel which was erected on the same spot. As noted above, the architecture of the chapel does not offer any safe chronological indication about the date of its construction. Given the fact that no datable pot-tery of the later Byzantine or post-Byzantine periods has been found during the excavation, it does appear that the chapel was erected at some point during the Early Byzantine period, possibly towards its end, and appears to have been used until around the seventh century ad. Since no pottery of these periods was found on the rest of the islet of Dhaskalio, or on the areas of Keros which were excavated by the Cam-bridge Keros Project, one can legitimately suggest that this was only a small religious site. The existence of further remains of the Early Byzantine and ‘Dark Age’ period on the island of Keros is a reasonable hypoth-esis, but further research on the island is needed in order to test this.

The fourth to sixth centuries ad are a period of expansion of habitation and activity in the Byzantine Empire. Habitation on small barren islets and prom-ontories is a common phenomenon in southern Greece during the later part of the Early Byzantine period, from the fifth to the seventh centuries ad, showing demographic expansion and the need for control of good harbours. Examples are islets in the Corinthian and the Argosaronic Gulfs (Gregory 1986a,b; 1999). Activity on these islets was previously interpreted as owing to insecurity caused by the barbarian inva-sions of this period (Hood 1970). This interpretation was widely accepted (see for example Huxley 1977),

but has been seriously questioned by later scholars (Gregory 2005, 157–70; Armstrong 2009, 175–7), who showed the economic aspect of use of these islets. Ship trade continued in the Aegean and the eastern Medi-terranean during the period of the Arab invasions (sev-enth and eighth centuries ad: Poulou-Papademetriou 1995; 2001; Armstrong 2009; Vroom 2011).

The Cyclades similarly show traces of intensive activity during the Early Byzantine period. Numer-ous urban and rural sites, often embellished with Early Christian basilicas, have been explored (on the Byzantine Cyclades in general see for convenience Gerousi 2002; on Thera see Bendermacher-Geroussi 2006; Gerousi 2010; Dafi 2010). In the seventh century ad economic contraction begins in most areas of the Empire; however the Cyclades continue to bear signs of economic activity. Naxos acquired a strong fortifica-tion (Kastro tou Apalirou) between the seventh and the ninth centuries ad, while the Early Byzantine set-tlement in Aplomata survived probably until the mid-eighth century ad (Lambrinoudakis 1993; Penna 2001, 403–4, n. 17–18). The economic prosperity of Naxos is shown by the number of churches spread over its countryside, which were built and painted in the seventh–ninth centuries ad. It is possible that Naxos acquired a prominent administrative position during this period (Penna 2001, 401–3). But Naxos is the not the only Cycladic island with archaeologically visible activity during this period. At Perissa on Thera, recent excavations revealed a large sixth-century ad Chris-tian basilica, the use of which continued in the seventh and the eighth centuries, as attested by coins (Gerousi 2010, 28–30). Recent excavations of the 2nd Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities revealed part of a settlement and harbour installations in the bay of Livadi, in Schi-nousa, dating towards the end of the Early Byzantine period (Chatzelazarou 2008). Numismatic finds of the eighth–ninth centuries ad, both minor issues for everyday transactions and hoards, are known from Amorgos (Touratsoglou 1999, Arkesine hoard 1888: 52 solidi, 4 semisses and 4 tremisses of Constantine V, probably concealed between 674–677/8; Marangou 2005, 195, no. 163), Thera, Mykonos, Delos, Rheneia and Polyaigos (Penna 2001, 404–10). These finds stand out in a period of extremely low numismatic circula-tion throughout the Byzantine Empire, and show that commercial transactions and trade continued in the Aegean even during the period of Arab naval power. Moreover, the hoard of Thera, which consists of 29 miliaresia of Theophilus, has been tentatively con-nected with the presence of the Byzantine army on the island (Penna 2001, 406).

The south coast of Dhaskalio, as well as its coast facing Keros, must have provided provisional

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Figure 8.2. Cup (c. sixth–seventh century ad) from the chapel (C2410). Scale 1:2.

0 3 cmC2410

Figure 8.5. Amphora body fragment found near the chapel (C2423). Scale 1:2.

Figure 8.3. Rim fragment of vessel probably deriving from the chapel (C2420). Scale 1:2.

Figure 8.4. Amphora fragments found near the chapel (C2422). Scale 1:2.

0 3 cmC2420

0 3 cmC2422 0 3 cmC2423

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harbouring in cases of sudden storms, and the small Dhaskalio chapel therefore appears as a minor religious site, where sailors could stop for a short pilgrimage. Future research in the Cyclades, and on the island of Keros itself, will hopefully illustrate further the kind of activity which took place in this maritime district in the Early Byzantine and ‘Dark Age’ periods.

Pottery catalogue

C2410. One-handled cup, mended from nine sherds (Fig. 8.2) Chapel, south wall. Found in situ Rim D. 82 mm; Base D. 48 mm; H. 67 mm; Wall T. 2.5 mm;

Wt 153 g Flat base, curves smoothly to meet the walls. Vertical

(slightly curved and inward-turned) walls, out-turned rim with shallow thin ridge on interior surface. Vertical handle, oval in section, rises slightly (5 mm) above rim.

Medium, hard-fired fabric, with a granular break. Dark grey (Munsell 2.5Y/4/1, ‘dark gray’) in core, pinkish-orange (Munsell 5YR/6/6, ‘reddish-yellow’) on surfaces. Fabric con-tains frequent small to medium rounded white inclusions, common medium sub-angular light orange inclusions, few medium rounded black inclusions, and mica. Mica appears in rare small specks in the core, but in very frequent, small specks to large flakes on the surfaces.

Handle bears two very shallow, vertical grooves on outer surface and one thinner groove on inner surface; thus has a typical Late Roman to Early (Middle) Byzantine form.

Parallels: Martini & Steckner 1993, 124, no. 3.1, fig. 37, pl. 16.1; Yangaki 2004, 135, no. 48.1, fig. 122a–b; Yangaki 2005, 136–8, fig. 20a, d, f; Dafi 2005, 213, no. 1123, pl. 41f. Similar shape of rim and handle: Aupert 1980, 428, no. 218, fig. 40.

Chronology: Early Byzantine, probably sixth–seventh cen-turies ad.

C2420. Vessel rim and neck fragment (two joining sherds) (Fig. 8.3) Trench XV, layer 2 Est. rim D. 120 mm; Pres. H. 122 mm; Wall T. 7–8.5 mm; Wt.

87 g Neck is cylindrical, slightly broadening towards bottom; rim

is a plain rounded finish of the neck. The sherd probably

belongs to an amphora. Alternatively it could belong to a water pipe.

Semi-fine, hard-fired fabric with a soapy surface and an even break (although break is covered with incrustation and thus poorly visible). Brown (Munsell 7.5YR/6/4, ‘light brown’), throughout. Fabric contains few small white and brown-black inclusions, and abundant mica (specks and small flakes) on both surfaces (fabric in core is invisible).

Parallels: Dafi 2005, 108, no. 1413, pl. 22A. For other parallels see discussion.

Chronology: c. seventh century ad. C2422. Amphora fragments (14) (Fig. 8.4) Trench XXV, layer 3 (10 sherds) and layer 1 (4 sherds). Pres. H. 137 mm; Body diameter at pres. fragment 190–230

mm; Wall T. 7 mm; Wt 530 g Fourteen fragments from the lower body of an amphora.

Lower body has a slightly conical shape, tapering towards the bottom. Body is ribbed with canonical alternating ribs and grooves of 8 mm each.

Fine, hard-fired fabric, with an even break. Light brown to pinkish-buff (Munsell 7.5YR/7/4, ‘reddish-yellow’). Fabric contains some very fine to medium matte white inclusions, and small sparkling whitish silver flakes. Pinkish-buff slip on outer surface; slip contains larger amount of the spar-kling whitish silver inclusions, and some small to medium dark grey inclusions.

Parallels: Poulou-Papademetriou 2001, 261, fig. 22b (LR1 survival?). Grooves on body are similar to the ones on the Early Byzantine ‘Samos Cistern type’ amphorae: see Arthur 1989, 83, fig. 4.

Chronology: Early Byzantine or slightly later.

C2423. Amphora body fragment (Fig. 8.5) Trench XXV, layer 1 140 mm × 95 mm; Wall T. 5–6 mm; Wt 55 g Preserved part of body has slightly curved, almost straight

walls. Body is ribbed, with canonical alternating ribs and grooves of 7 mm each

Fine, semi-hard, pinkish-orange fabric (Munsell 2.5YR/6/8, ‘light red’). Contains a few small white inclusions, some very small to medium black inclusions, and a few small to large sparkling whitish-silver flakes. Surfaces bear very small voids. Fabric is very similar to C2422.

Parallels: See C2422 Chronology: Early Byzantine.