Κλείτωρ. Η πόλη υπό το φως των ανασκαφών: Γενική θεώρηση ανασκαφικών δεδομένων

Abstract

Excavations at the site of the city of Arcadian Kleitor began in 1987. To date, the main body of archaeological evidence lies in the finds from the systematic excavation in the area between the theatre and the SW gate as well as in those from an extensive rescue excavation, which preceded the installation of the irrigation system of the valley. From this and other relevant eVidence, much information has been obtained concerning the building history of the ancient city. The fortification wall, which surrounded the city, was of an estimated length of ca. 2500-3000 m, and it enclosed an area of about 1.9 sq. km. The socJe is built of stone, with the core-with-facings (emplekton) method, following the trapezoidal system. The superstructure consisted of mud-bricks. At the SW gate, two Hellenistic phases can be distinguished, while there are indications of an earlier, but not clearly identifiable one. The theatre lies at the SW end of the city, and evidence of a diazoma has been located. The theatre seems to have been used as a quarry already from the Roman period. At the crossing of the two main streets of the city, at the site of Frangokklesi, there is evidence of an organized settlement of the classical and Hellenistic periods. During the Roman period, the settlement extended considerably outside the city walls, where rural structures of this period have been located. Organized cemeteries lie outside the gates. There are burials dating from the Late Geometric period until the Late Roman. Excavation and surface finds lead to the conclusion that Frangokklesi was built on the site of an Early Christian basilica. Activity in the city seems to have ceased in the 4th century A.D. In all probability, it was transferred to the west, to the site of the modern village of Kleitoras, known under this name since medieval times. Finally, it must be added that prehistoric artefacts found in excavations or collected on the surface, suggest activity in the valley in the pre-Mycenaean period with dwellings on the surrounding hills.