917-926

Mesembria-Zone, 1987-1997

• Τσατσοπούλου, Τζένη

The past ten years have been a highly productive period for the archaeologicalsite of Mesembria-Zone, on the level both of research through excavationand of the creation of the infrastructure needed to accentuate and exploit thesite.Excavation has extended to many parts of the city, enabling archaeologiststo form a picture of its basic characteristics. The urban fabric was laid out onthe Hippodamian system in accordance with the natural and manmade boundariesof the site: the seasonal river to the east, the coast to the south and thewest arm of the wall. Complexes of buildings, most of them houses —thoughthere is also evidence of commercial activity— can be discerned on the insulae.The most recent research has provided additional evidence about the size, organisationand fittings of these buildings, many of which proved to have hadtwo storeys. In terms of public buildings, a temple of Apollo which formed partof an entire complex of structures has now joined the small sanctuary of Demeterexcavated as far back as 1973. The numerous artefacts of the sixth and fifthcenturies BC found in the sanctuary demonstrate that it was one of the earliestsanctuaries in Thrace.However, perhaps the most important finds are those connected with thechange in the name by which the city was known. The finding of large numbersof coins of Zone, and in three different numismatic types, leads to the conclusionthat this city was Zone, the most important colony of Samothrace on thecoast of Thrace.The entire body of excavation work has been accentuated and exploited ina series of parallel infrastructure projects of which the following are the mostimportant: the site has been constantly maintained and cleared, trees havebeen planted, electric lighting and telephones have been installed, a well hasbeen drilled, laboratories and storerooms have been constructed, roofing toshelter the finds has been erected, extensive restoration work has been carriedout and the entire length of the road from the nearest village to the entrance tothe archaeological site (5 km) has been surfaced.

• History and Archaeology

• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)

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