Research Team
of the Ancient Demos of Halasarnitai on Kos
Research Title: The role of Demos in the ancient world. The case of Halasarna on Kos: settlement remains, sanctuaries, cemeteries, political and trade relationships with other centres.
Programme: ‘PYTHAGORAS: Reinforcement of Research Teams in the Universities’. Financed by EPEAEK and the EU.
Institution: The University of Athens: Department of History and Archaeology
The position of the demos in the ancient world is being investigated. The demos of the Halasarnitai on Kos is used as an example. The subject of research is the thorough study of the finds from the area of this specific demos, in order to trace its political and economic development, the definition of its relationship with the primate demos of the island, as well as the trade contacts with important centres in the Mediterranean, the diachronic study of the centralization and de-centralization phenomena, and finally the analysis of the most important aspects of social life in the demos. For the study of this subject a combination of the following methods is used: intensive field survey almost to the entire demos area, study of the literary, epigraphic and excavation sources, and the formation of a database for the finds of the Halasarna excavation conducted by the University (modern Kardamaina), in order to function as a point of reference and comparison. The outcome of this study will be a series of monographs, the creation of a database and a digital map recording all finds by period and type.
Project Director
G. Kokkorou-Aleura, Professor of Classical Archaeology, University of AthensProject Co-directors- DEP Members
S. Kalopisi-Verti, Professor of Byzantine Archaeology, University of Athens
M. Panagiotidou-Kesisoglou, Professor of Byzantine Archaeology, University of Athens
E. Papuci-Wladyka, Professor of Classical Archaeology, University of KrakoviaField Survey Organizer and Coordinator of the Research
K. Kopanias, Postdoctoral Researcher in Classical ArchaeologyMaterial Study
G. Kokkorou-Aleura, Professor of Classical Archaeology, University of Athens
L. Karali-Giannakopoulou, Reader of Environmental Archaeology, University of Athens
E. Papuci-Wladyka, Professor of Classical Archaeology, University of Krakovia
K. Kopanias, Postdoctoral Researcher in Classical Archaeology
S. Arvaniti, PhD in Byzantine Archaeology
M. Georgiadis, Postdoctoral Researcher in Prehistoric Archaeology
V. Georgopoulou, PhD Student in Classical Archaeology
C. Diamanti, PhD Student in Byzantine Archaeology
M. Koutsoumbou, PhD Student in Classical Archaeology
A. Konstantinidi, PhD Student in Byzantine Archaeology
D. Mourelatos, PhD Student in Byzantine Archaeology
D. Botsi, PhD Student in Classical Archaeology
E. Poupaki, PhD Student in Classical Archaeology
M. Skordara, PhD Student in Byzantine Archaeology
A. Chatzikonstantinou, geologistDatabase
A. Eustathopoulos (database creation and management)
K. Kopanias (database management)Digitization of Photographs
L. Traulos, Postgraduate Student in Byzantine ArchaeologyMaps (MapInfo) and Plans (Autocad)
K. Helf, Archaeologist
K. Kopanias, Postdoctoral Researcher in Classical Archaeology
L. Traulos, Postgraduate Student in Byzantine Archaeology
A. Chatzikonstantinou, geologistWeb Page
K. Kopanias (creation and management)
M. Georgiadis (English translation)Other Associates
D. Charalampous, E.P. member of the ‘Restoration of Antiquities’ department in the Polythechnics of Athens
V. Kylikoglou, Researcher of the Demokritos Foundation
A. Drigopoulou, painter-illustrator
G. Antoniou, architect with specialization in archaeological studies
L. Kopania, E.M.P. topographer
N. Gargali, Postgraduate Student in Classical Archaeology
V. Psilakakou, Postgraduate Student in Classical Archaeology
Participated to the survey 9/03 7/04 10/04 Activities Konstantinos Kopanias Field Survey Organizer Alexis Eustathopoulos Field group manager, material study Lampros Traulos Field group manager, material study, photographs Achilleas Chatzikonstantinou Field group manager, material study Euphrosyni Anagnopoulou Survey Nikos Bablekas Survey, drawing of architect. Giorgos Bittos Survey Nomiki Gargali Survey Mairy Gikaki Survey Orestis Goulakos Survey Giorgos Deligiannakis Survey Kerstin Helf Survey, pottery drawing Κatrin Heyken Survey, pottery drawing Loukia Karabela Survey Eugenia Karbouni Survey Panagiotis Kauchitsas Survey Katerina Keramida Survey Photini Kokkini Survey, pottery drawing Alexandra Konstantinidou Survey, pottery drawing Ingrid Laube Survey, pottery drawing Myrto Litsa Survey Spyridon Loumakis Survey Thomas Mazarakos Survey Christina Mastorodimou Survey Dionysios Mourelatos Survey Ioannis Mourthos Survey Artemis Papanika Survey Sotiria Papastaurou Survey Nikitas Passaris Survey Oliver Pilz Survey Eirini Poupaki Survey Agnes Thomas Survey Georgios Tsimpoukis Survey Persa Christakou Survey Basia Psilakakou Survey
Analytical Description of the Research Work
In contemporary bibliography the absence of thorough study for the ancient demoi, which were more or less autonomous economic and political units, as well as their relationships, is clear. It is unfortunate that up to now the majority of their study had a sporadic character and was associated with large urban centres or were concentrated to Attica. Most of the peripheral demoi remain a terra incognita with few exceptions. It is obvious that a study encompassing all demoi of the ancient world would have had only a general character. Hence it was decided that a more detailed and thorough study of a specific case would be preferred, from which it would be possible to extract general conclusions. The demos of the Halasarnitai was favoured, because it was the second demos in religious importance out of the six, of which Kos was divided, mainly for the following reasons:
1. From epigraphic and excavation evidence it becomes apparent that ancient Halasarna, at least during the 2nd century BC was an important urban centre with a thousand citizens, to whom the slaves and the metics should be added. Undeniable verification of the diachronic importance of the specific demos is the important sanctuary of Apollo Pythaios or Pythaeos, the extensive Early Christian settlement (from the very few known in Greece), as well as the 4 basilicas that belong to the same period that so far have been recovered.
2. The demos of the Halasarnitai could become an example for the study of the economic and political relationships between centre and periphery, in the specific case it is the city of Kos, at lest from the Classical until the Early Christian period.3. From the literary sources, but mainly from the archaeological finds it becomes apparent that Kos had been an important trading and exporting centre in the course of long periods in antiquity. This fact reveals that it was not a remote area from the wider political and economic arena, but on the contrary it was in direct dependency from the major centres of the Mediterranean world. The results that will derive from the study of this specific demos, reflect the wider developments in the Aegean.
4. The thorough study of one ancient demos is possible only through the combination of many research methods, which will be dealt is details below. A necessary prerequisite is the conduct of an excavation, whose stratification will offer a reliable point of reference for the finds of the wider region. From 1985 and thereafter an excavation is conducted at the site of ancient Halasarna from members of DEP of the Classical and Byzantine archaeology from the University of Athens. The distribution of study of an important part of the finds to graduate students led to their familiarization with the local characteristics of the material and already offers to the research group a good number of specialized researchers.The research aims of this programme could be summarized as:
1. Thorough study of the finds from the area of the demos of the Halasarnitai, in order to find out its political and economic development. The location of the settlement, the shrines, the fortified positions, the farmsteads and the villas in the whole extent of the demos, the definition of its relationship to the primate demos of the island and of the trade contacts with the important centres of the Mediterranean.
2. A diachronic study of the centralization and de-centralization phenomena, as well as the analysis of their origins.
3. Review of the most important aspects of the social life of the demos (sanctuaries and places of worship, cemeteries and burial practices).
The research has the following stages:1) Field survey. It is well known that the excavation is a time consuming and expensive means, for the study of a broader area instead it is possible to employ the field survey. Already three survey periods have been concluded (September 2003, July 2004, October 2004), based on the following methodology: The entire size of the ancient demos of the Halasarnitai was divided into 100x100 metres square grids. Their location and the geographical position of the architectural remains was precisely achieved by the use of mobile geographic positioning system (GPS). The survey had a systematic character and was conducted in every period by 2-3 teams of five. For statistical reasons the ceramic finds were counted (with the aid of hand measuring devices) in every square that was investigated, while the most characteristic one were collected. Since the distance between the team members, who were walking steadily forming a chain, was small (20 metres), it was possible to identify small habitation areas i.e. farmsteads. Already a digitized map (1:5000 scale) has been created for the area under study, which will take a three dimensional form in order to attribute the sites according to period. The finds have already been catalogued in an electronic database which will be connected to the digital map. A preliminary report is planned to be published in 2005 and the final one in 2006. Moreover, the digitized database is planned to be launched to the internet as well as the digital map of the demos of the Halasarnitai, so as the finds to be accessible to the researchers.
2) Digitizing the finds from the Univeristy’s older excavation seasons at Kardamaina. The creation of a database is planned for the cataloguing, in a systematic way, of all the finds. Furthermore, the digitilization of all excavation plans of the previous seasons and their integration to a digital map is designed. A large part of the finds from the University’s excavation is already being studied (Hellenistic and Early Christian ceramics, glass items and stone tools, architectural remains, sculpture and epigraphies). The digitizing process that was programmed for the 2004-2005 period will speed up the study and will be a reference point for the material that derives outside the excavation context (from the field survey or the other excavations).
3) Study of the excavation, literary and epigraphic evidence. The conclusion of the systematic study of the literary sources is sought, as well as of the epigraphies that have been recovered in the demos of the Halasarnitai and do not come from the University’s excavation. Moreover, the publications of excavations conducted by the Ephorate of Antiquities in the Dodecanese will be studied and the unpublished material, if that is possible. The results will be incorporated in the database and the digital map of the field survey. The specific research is planned for 2005 and aims at the completion of the material study.
4) Publication of finds. The final publication has been programmed for 2006 and will have the following formats: The publication of monographs for the result of the field survey and the study of the stone tools from the area of the demos. The Hellenistic and Early Christian ceramics from Halasarna will also be studied. Emphasis will be concentrated on identifying and highlighting the trade relationships with the big centres of the Mediterranean that occur. They will be published in the ‘Halasarna’ series.
Two additional activities are planned, which will not be funded by the EPEAEK:
1) The continuation of the University’s excavation in the area of the large sanctuary in ancient Halasarna.
2) The development of the excavation area, in order to be accessible to the public.
Publications
of the research team
related to the common project
- Γ.Αλευρά, Σ. Καλοπίση, Ν. Κούρου, Α. Λαιμού, Μ. Παναγιωτίδη, «Ανασκαφή στην Καρδάμαινα (Αρχαία Αλασάρνα) της Κω», Αρχαιολογική Εφημερίς 1985, Χρονικά, 1-18.
- Γ. Κοκκορού-Αλευρά, Σ. Καλοπίση-Βέρτη, Α. Λαιμού, Μ. Παναγιωτίδη, «Ανασκαφή στην Καρδάμαινα (Αρχαία Αλασάρνα) της Κω», Πρακτικά της εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας 1986 (1990) 298-330.
- Γ.Κοκκορού-Αλευρά, Σ.Καλοπίση-Βέρτη, Α. Λαιμού, Μ. Παναγιωτίδη, «Ανασκαφή στην Καρδάμαινα (Αρχαία Αλασάρνα) της Κω», Πρακτικά της εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας 1987 (1991) 325-355.
- Γ.Κοκκορού-Αλευρά, Σ.Καλοπίση-Βέρτη, Α.Λαιμού, Μ. Παναγιωτίδη, «Ανασκαφή στην Καρδάμαινα (Αρχαία Αλασάρνα) της Κω κατά τα έτη 1988-1990», Πρακτικά της εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας 1990 (1993) 342-367.
- S. Kalopissi-Verti, «Kos tardoantica e bizantina nelle scoperte archeologiche, dal IV secolo al 1314», Corsi di cultura sull’arte ravennate e bizantina 38 (1991) 235-251.
- G. Kokkorou-Alevras, S. Kalopissi-Verti, M.Panayotidi, «Excavations at Kardamaina (Ancient Halasarna) in Kos », Αρχαιογνωσία 9 (1995-1996), Αθήνα 1998, 313-334.
- Γ. Κοκκορού-Αλευρά, Σ. Καλοπίση-Βέρτη, Μ. Παναγιωτίδη, «Ανασκαφή στην Καρδάμαινα (Αρχαία Αλασάρνα) της Κω», Κωακά 5 (1995) 141-184.
- Σ. Καλοπίση-Βέρτη, «Παλαιοχριστιανική λίθινη μήτρα κοσμημάτων από ανασκαφή στην Καρδάμαινα της Κω», Δελτίον της Χριστιανικής και Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας, περ. Δ΄, τ. 20 (1998) 245-252.
- Γ. Κοκκορού-Αλευρά, “Πανεπιστημιακή ανασκαφή στο Ιερό του Απόλλωνα στην Καρδάμαινα (αρχαία Αλάσαρνα) της Κω: ένδεκα χρόνια ανασκαφικής έρευνας” Ιστορία- Τέχνη - Αρχαιολογία της Κω, Α΄ Διεθνές Επιστημονικό Συνέδριο, Κως, 2-4 Μαΐου 1997, Αθήνα 2001, 91- 105.
- Β. Γεωργοπούλου, Κωακοί αμφορείς από την Καρδάμαινα (αρχαία Αλάσαρνα) της Κω, στο Ιστορία-Τέχνη-Αρχαιολογία της Κω, Ιστορία- Τέχνη - Αρχαιολογία της Κω, Α΄ Διεθνές Επιστημονικό Συνέδριο, Κως, 2-4 Μαΐου 1997, Αθήνα 2001, 107-114.
- Σ. Καλοπίση-Βέρτη, M. Παναγιωτίδη, "Tαφικό συγκρότημα στον παλαιοχριστιανικό οικισμό της Aλασάρνας (σημερινής Kαρδάμαινας) στην Kω," Πρακτικά Διεθνούς Eπιστημονικού Συνεδρίου για την Iστορία - Tέχνη - Aρχαιολογία της Kω, Σειρά Δημοσιευμάτων περιοδικού “Aρχαιογνωσία”, Aθήνα 2001, 243-249.
- Ν. Ρουμελιώτης, «Παλαιοχριστιανικά λυχνάρια από την Αλασάρνα (σημ. Καρδάμαινα) της Κω», Ιστορία- Τέχνη - Αρχαιολογία της Κω, Α΄ Διεθνές Επιστημονικό Συνέδριο, Κως, 2-4 Μαΐου 1997, Αθήνα 2001, 255-276.
- G. Kokkorou-Alevras, “Eine Erheninschrift der rõmischen Kaiserzeit aus dem Apolloheiligtum in Halasarna (Alt Kardamaina) auf Kos”, Τιμητικός τόμοw Ι. Α.Ostrowski, Studia Archaeologica, Κρακοβία 2001, 177-88.
- Γ. Κοκκορού-Αλευρά, New Epigraphical Evidence on the Cults of Ancient Halasarna in Cos. Πρακτικά του Week-end Seminar 11-14 May 2000, Dept of Archeology and Ancient History, Uppsala University, The Hellenistic Polis of Kos, State, Economy and Culture (υπό έκδοσιν).
- Γ. Κοκκορού–Αλευρά, Α. Λαιμού, Ε. Σημαντώνη–Μπουρνιά (Εκδ.), Ιστορία – Τέχνη – Αρχαιολογία της Κω, Α΄ Διεθνές Επιστημονικό Συνέδριο, Κως 2-4 Μαΐου 1997, Παν/μιο Αθηνών, Φιλοσοφική Σχολή, Σειρά Δημοσιευμάτων περιοδικού ‘Αρχαιογνωσία’, αρ. 1, Αθήνα 2001.
- Γ. Κοκκορού-Αλευρά, Ο “Ludwig Ross και οι Αρχαιότητες της Κω”. Ανακοίνωση στο Διεθνές Συνέδριο «Ο Λουδοβίκος Ρος στην Ελλάδα 1833-1843», Αθήνα 2-3 Οκτωβρίου 2002 (2004).
- Γ. Κοκκορού-Αλευρά – Γ. Δεληγιαννάκης, “Μία ενδιαφέρουσα λατρευτική κατασκευή μπροστά από το κτίριο Γ στο Ιερό του Απόλλωνα στην Καρδάμαινα (αρχαία Αλάσαρνα) της Κω”. Ανακοίνωση στο «Τέταρτο Επιστημονικό Συμπόσιο, Ανασκαφή και Έρευνα IV. Από το Ερευνητικό Έργο του Τομέα Αρχαιολογίας και Ιστορίας της Τέχνης του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών, Αθήνα 17 και 18 Απριλίου 2003 (2004).
- Γ. Κοκκορού-Αλευρά, «Αρχαία Αλάσαρνα Ι. Οι Επιγραφές» (2004).
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