The Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project conducted its first study season in its newly leased apotheke (storage facility) in Tripolis between June 15 and July 29, 2011.

The Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project is a synergasia project between the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the University of Arizona and the ΛΘ’ Ephoreia of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities in Tripolis working under the auspices of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. The co-directors of the project are Dr. Anna Karapanagiotou, Director of the 39th Ephoreia of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Dr. Michalis Petropoulos, former Director of the 39th Ephoreia of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Dr. Mary E. Voyatzis of the University of Arizona and Dr. David Gilman Romano of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Our synergates is Anastasia Panagiotopoulou, former Director of the Archaeological Institute for Peloponnesian Studies in Tripolis. The work was made possible through the generosity of individuals, foundations and Greek-American supporters from the United States. The financial support of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Karabots of Fort Washington, Pennsylvania and Ms. Annette Merle-Smith of Princeton, New Jersey, continues to be of major importance. The project also received important support from Institute for Aegean Prehistory (INSTAP). The Polistikos Syllogos of Ano Karyes and its President, Mr. Christos Koumoundouros has continued to support all of our efforts in Arcadia. After 5 continuous seasons of excavation, 2006-2010, as well as two seasons of preliminary topographical, architectural, geophysical and geological surveys, 2004 and 2005, this was our first summer to be able to study extensively the excavated material and results of our surveys.

Apotheke – Tripolis

Our apotheke is located at 32 Heroon Polytechnion in Tripolis, opposite the Archaeological Museum of Tripolis. The apotheke includes a ground floor, a basement, seasonal high-speed internet connectivity and access to a backyard that has a source of water for washing pottery and other finds. In both the ground floor and the basement we have erected metal shelving units, installed tables and chairs, and set up areas for data entry and cataloguing, conservation, photography and drawing, as well as for the scholarly study of the artifacts. Our registrar Leslie Hammond and our conservator Terri Moreno were instrumental in setting up and managing the apotheke. We had a total number of 28 individuals who worked this summer in Tripolis, including 15 students, most from the Universities of Pennsylvania and Arizona. In addition, numerous scholars from around the world came to conduct specialized research. For example, Susan Rotroff came to study the Hellenistic pottery, Barbara Burrell examined the excavated coins and Philip Sapirstein analyzed the terracotta roof tiles from the site. Other research conducted this past summer includes Andrew Koh’s study of chemical residue analysis, Britt Starkovich’s work on faunal remains, Irene Romano’s study of the stelai and statue bases and Leslie Hammond’s analysis of miniature pottery. Student assistance was utilized in washing of the pottery, cataloguing of the finds and entering data into the new computerized database under the direction of Leslie Hammond and Nick Stapp. During one week in July, 8-15, we had a concentrated session focusing on the prehistoric pottery found in the altar excavations. The scholars involved in the analysis of this prehistoric pottery include Jeannette Forsen, Gullog Nordquist, Susan Petrakis and Mary Voyatzis. Overall, we made excellent progress on the cataloguing, drawing, and photography of the artifacts and pottery that we wish to include in the final publication, but still have much more work to do in 2012. Mary Voyatzis and David Romano also continued to make good progress on the preliminary report of the excavation. Chris Stackowicz and Eric Fergason were involved in taking many photographs of objects for the publications. Christina Kolb served as the archaeological illustrator for the month of July and was very busy!

Ano Karyes

During the entire six week season we also had a small group of architectural students working at the Sanctuary of Zeus on Mt. Lykaion on our architectural documentation project, specifically at the bath house to the north of the hippodrome. This group was living in a village house in Ano Karyes and working in the Pneumatiko Kentro of the village. A larger team of scholars and students arrived later in the summer to work on both the inaugural field school and trail opening of the Parrhasian Heritage Park.

Field School – Parrhasian Heritage Park

The first Parrhasian Heritage Park Field School was conducted for two weeks from July 16-30, 2011. The work was divided into several categories: considering values or principles that will guide a regional vision for the park; describing potential catalyst projects that will serve the groups managing the park; studying landscape character, urban character, trails, and sign design; and gathering information on the history, geology and archaeology of the region. The conclusion of the field school resulted in the opening of the first trail of the park, the Trail of Pan, which extends from the village of Ano Karyes in Arcadia to the village of Neda in Messenia. The faculty of the field school included George Davis, Mark Davison, Anna Karapanagiotou, David Romano, Nicholas Stapp, Ximena Valle and Mary Voyatzis.

Trail of Pan Opening – Parrhasian Heritage Park

Community leaders as well as local political dignitaries took part in the trail opening on Saturday July 30, 2011. Hikers assembled at the villages of Ano Karyes and Neda at 10 am and walked the trail that is nearly 6 km. in length. Participants from each start point met near the border between Arcadia and Messenia, where the inauguration ceremony took place and from which the Sanctuary of Pan could be seen. Participants included the Governor of Arcadia, Mr. Evangelos Giannakouras, the Mayor of Megalopolis, Dr. Takis Bouras, the Director of the 39th Ephoreia of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities in Tripolis, Dr. Anna Karapanagiotou, together with local village and civic leaders and 35 residents and children of residents of villages within the park boundary. The Parrhasian Park Planning team together with the student participants of the field school were also in attendance. Short talks were presented by the dignitaries and there was a signing ceremony in which each of those in attendance were offered the opportunity to sign a declaration of support for the Trail of Pan and for the Parrhasian Heritage Park.

Inaugural Alliance Meeting – Parrhasian Heritage Park

The first meeting of the Parrhasian Heritage Park Alliance took place on Sunday July 31, 2011 in Megalopolis at which the Governor of the Peloponnesos, Dr. Petros Tatoulis, presided. Plans for the future of the Park were discussed and it was decided that the Alliance would become the governing agency of the Park. The meeting was attended by approximately 50 citizens, many of whom live within the boundaries of the Park and represented civic, political, professional, government and academic sectors. A statement from the Greek Minister of Culture, Pavlos Geroulanos, was read by Dr. Anna Karapanagiotou in which he pledged support for the creation of the Park. Under the presidency of Dr. Tatoulis, two committees were established, the Legislation Committee under the leadership of Dr. Costas Cassios and the Park Planning Committee under the leadership of the Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project together with the 39th Ephoreia of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities.

This text summarizes the work of the Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project conducted during summer 2011. A full color version of the brochure with Greek and English text, photographs and maps can be downloaded here.