Metamorfosi Skarminga  
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ΦΩΤΟΓΡΑΦΙΕΣ      
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ΑΓΙΟΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣ 1

ΜΕΤΑΜΟΡΦΩΣΗ 1

ΜΕΤΑΜΟΡΦΩΣΗ-ΑΓΙΟΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣ 2

ΜΑΡΓΕΛΙ

Periods Represented

(A?), (C), HL, ER-MR, LR, Byz, Ott, EMod, Mod

 

Max Dimension	Actual Area in Hectares
900 m. (N-S) x 1180 m. (E-W) (maxima)	39.81 ha.

 

On-site Density (Sherds per Hectare)	Ratio of On-site Density to Off-site Density
15.98	1805

 

Collection Strategy

Selection (S) => Micro-tract (M) => Vac. circle (VC)

 

Location and Description

Site A4 covers an extensive area N and S of a deep ravine N of Metamorfosi, reaching the northern outskirts of the modern village, and, as well as the slopes of the ravine, includes flat fields adjacent to it. The site has the character of an amphitheater, and there are excellent views toward the W, into the Metaxada Valley. The area is well-watered. In addition to the spring at Ayia Sotira (see below), there are two other springs in the vicinity, one at Ayios Konstadtinos (Site A6, ca. 1 km. NW) and one in the modern village of Metamorfosi. The majority of fields that comprise the site are intensively cultivated in olives, vines, tree crops, and vegetables. Fields descend the slopes of the ravine on a series of terraces, some of them supported by rubble retaining walls. Numerous pipelines provide irrigation for many of these fields, the water supplied from cisterns near Ayia Sotira. Several field houses are linked by dirt tracks. One older stone-walled track (or kalderimi) was partly destroyed in 1994; it apparently led east to the church of the Panayia, ca. 600 m. W of the village of Touloupa Hani. Another old stone-walled track is preserved further N, near the church of Ayios Ioannis. The modern church of Ayios Ioannis is located at the N edge of the site[087.09], the Byzantine church of the Transfiguration (Ayia Sotira) approximately at its center.[111.10] The church of Ayia Sotira has been repaired and altered on several occasions; its earliest parts probably date to the Late Byzantine period.[092.18] A copious spring rises under the church and there is a small collecting basin for water next to it. In a field SW of Ayia Sotira, there are three large fragments of masonry, built of small stones, tile and mortar.[092.17] These fragments lie immediately S of a water channel cut into the bedrock, which probably once carried water from the spring at Ayia Sotira. The channel[111.19] can be traced for at least 150 m.; over part of its course it holds a modern irrigation pipe. It runs W, then bends S to skirt the base of a flat-topped spur which projects S over the ravine. Here part of the channel is lined with stone. At the nose of the spur, near the channel, there is preserved the corner of a rectangular structure[111.14] (max. pres. dimensions, 4.5 m. x 3.2 m.; wall thickness 0.6-1.9 m.) believed locally to be the remains of a 'Turkish bath' (the area is called Loutra). There are many traces of waterproof mortar on the inside faces of the walls. The original structure appears to have been built of carefully cut and neatly set stones, laid in place with mortar; stones and pieces of Early Modern tile are cemented on top of it. In 1995 we noted that a hole had been dug at the E side of the structure, exposing fragments of pottery and tile. Cores for pollen analysis were extracted from the floor of the ravine in 1994; they contained very little pollen and the state of preservation of the pollen they contained was poor. Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman pottery was found primarily in the southern part of the site. In contrast, large quantities of Byzantine pottery were collected in the vicinity of the church of Ayia Sotira. Most pieces belong specifically to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, roughly contemporary with the likely date of its construction in the 13th century. Byzantine ceramics were also collected in the northwest corner of the site.

 

Intervisible sites

Metaxada Kalopsana (1) (A2); Metamorfosi Ayios Konstadtinos (2) (A6)

 

Artifact Summary

The collected pottery from this site covers a wide chronological range, from Archaic to Byzantine, with a few later pieces. The Medieval pottery from this site is fairly well-preserved and represents a poorer level of Byzantine pottery forms represented at such sites as Nihoria, in terms of both fabrication and decoration.

Metamorfosi Agios Konstadtinos (1)
List Pottery
List Photographs

Periods Represented

(HL-Byz)

 

Max Dimension	Actual Area in Hectares
70 m. (NW/SE) x 30 m. (SW/NE)	0.14 ha.

 

On-site Density (Sherds per Hectare)	Ratio of On-site Density to Off-site Density
6.99	602

 

Collection Strategy

Selection (S) => Grab by locus (L)

 

Location and Description

Site A1 consists of at least 16 graves that lie on both sides of a bulldozed dirt road, at the E side of the Metaxada valley, some 3 kms. SE of Metaxada village. Graves are located both E and W of the road. On the E side of the road is a high (4.5 m.) exposed and eroding scarp. Graves of two types were observed in a thin band of soil covered by maquis at the edge of the scarp, more or less at the same elevation, and partly cut into bedrock; in several instances, faint traces of the edges of the pits in which the graves were set can be discerned.[002.20] The graves are spread N-S along the scarp over a distance of ca. 70 m. Thirteen small concentrations of tile mark the remains of tile graves (#1-12, 15). Three limestone slabs arranged in an inverted 'pi' shape probably mark the remains of a cist grave.[002.08] Human bone fragments were found protruding from the scarp and lying at its base. Amidst bushes at foot of the scarp there are rocks and tile fragments that probably have fallen from graves above. Immediately W of the scarp on the other side of the road, there is a flat bulldozed terrace with a large square depression at its center, probably a gravel quarry.[091.33] A tile grave (#16) was noted near the SW corner of the terrace.[091.34][091.35] Two tile graves (#13-14) were observed near the S edge of the terrace in the N scarp of a heavily overgrown track, near the main dirt road. Since the site was first explored by PRAP in 1992, scarps have further eroded. Two new graves were observed in 1995.

 

Intervisible sites

Metamorfosi Skarminga (A4); Metaxada Kalopsana (1) (A2)

 

Artifact Summary

Material from this site consists of undiagnostic tile fragments and worn body sherds associated with tile graves. The surface of the pottery is too abraded to provide a secure date. The fabric and finger swirl decoration of the catalogued tile must be dated broadly Hellenistic-Byzantine.

Metamorfosi Ayios Konstadtinos (2)
List Pottery
List Photographs

Periods Represented

(G-A), C, HL, R, Byz, (Ott), Mod

 

Max Dimension	Actual Area in Hectares
100 m. (NE-SW) x 70 m. (NW-SE)	0.56 ha.

 

On-site Density (Sherds per Hectare)	Ratio of On-site Density to Off-site Density
20.48	5207

 

Collection Strategy

Selection (S) => Micro-tract (M) => Vac. circle (VC)

 

Location and Description

The small church of Ayios Konstadtinos is located on the E side of the Metaxada valley, about 1.5 km. NNW of Metamorfosi and approximately 600 m. E of the hamlet of Stylianos on the other side of the valley. Visibility is poor. Fields adjacent to the church are for the most part overgrown. The church was entirely re-roofed in 1992; at that time tiles from the older roof were stacked near it and fragments were scattered in the churchyard, making it increasingly difficult to recognize ancient artifacts. W and SW of the church is a gentle slope, with a sharper drop after ca. 70 m. N of the church is a terrace, separated from the churchyard by a stone retaining wall (ca. 1.5-2.0 m. high) that incorporates many pot sherds and tile fragments.[092.04] In 1992, a ditch was dug through the terrace, and a water pipeline laid to carry water to Stylianos from the spring E of Ayios Konstadtinos. Large quantities of pottery and tile were visible in the scarps of the ditch. In 1995 weeds in the terraced field had been burnt and visibility was much improved. Two large, well-cut limestone blocks (0.6 m. L. x 0.33 H. x 0.3 m. max. pres. W.; 0.4 L. x 0.25 H. x 0.34 max pres. W.) were found NW of the church; there were other smaller, less carefully worked blocks in this same part of the site.[092.03] Approximately 20 m. SW of the church are two ruined foundations that contain small worked blocks.[074.29] The W end of the larger structure (designated House A) directly abuts the other (House B). House A (10 m. x 5 m.) is clearly the older building; it has mortared well-built walls, with a door in the center of its eastern side. House B (8 m. x 4 m.) was built against House A; its entrance (E) cut through the W wall of House A. The walls of House B are built for the most part of small stones of irregular shapes and fragments of tile; the house is still partly roofed. Its SW and NW corners are built of worked limestone blocks laid in a 'header and stretcher' arrangement.[074.33] In the SW corner of House A, there is a tumble of worked blocks (4-5) similar to those in the corners of House B ; near them is a column fragment[074.28] of very battered limestone. The column lies partly embedded in the ground, projecting ca. 0.65 m.; on top is a square dowel hole (8 x 8 cm.) approximately 2 cm. deep. The exterior of the column is now heavily worn; no trace of fluting is preserved, if it ever existed.

 

Intervisible sites

Metaxada Kalopsana (1) (A2); Stylianos

 

Artifact Summary

The pottery collected has a chronological range of Archaic to Modern. Most of the diagnostic pottery is from the Hellenistic period, where the collected sherds can represent a single household assemblage. This assemblage is comparable to the pottery from site E1. Here, however, the vessels represent local fabric versions of fine ware forms. A second diagnostic cluster is from the Byzantine period. Ceramics from this period are table wares and coarse wares common to Messenia. Small quantities of Archaic, Classical, and Roman sherds are also present. Overall, the sherds are in reasonably good condition with a number of large fragments preserved.