According to the short and preliminary reports of the old excavations, the Geometric period was mainly represented by pottery and some graves opened in the area of the prehistoric fortification wall.
For the moment, the Hellenistic Period is only represented by pottery collected during the 2014 season, while cleaning the two large rectilinear stone piles located near the western edge of old Trench 1. Future research may shed more light on this period at Plasi.
The extensive building remains, including a large Megaron and the fortification wall, along with strong evidence for craft production, as indicated by the two pottery kilns found next to the Megaron, all clearly suggest the existence of a large and prosperous settlement during the Middle Helladic Period.
The Classical Period is represented by plenty of pottery which was collected during the 2014 season, while cleaning the two large rectilinear stone piles located near the western edge of old Trench 1.
So far, the new excavations have failed to identify pottery or any other remains of the Roman Period. However, future research may alter this, since the wider area of Marathon particularly flourished at the time of Herodes Atticus. Indeed, fragments of a Hermes column, associated with the Herodes Atticus’ mansion, were found near to the focus area.
From 700 BC onwards a drastic change is witnessed at Plasi. The site acquired a sacred role, as is indicated by the large square Perivolos of a sanctuary, in the centre of the excavated area.
The unearthed, but still partly unexcavated, structures of the EH period in Trenches 003, 006 and 010 reinforce the idea that the settlement was established at least during the EH II phase.
As with the Roman times, the excavations have failed so far to produce evidence for the Early Byzantine Period. It should be mentioned though that 250 m away from the focus area, the Greek Archaeological Service unearthed an Early Byzantine basilica church of the 6th century AD.
For the time being, the new excavations have added but little to our knowledge for the Neolithic Period, since it is only represnted by a few sherds from mixed deposits.
The new excavations have produced fine LH I-II pottery, but this comprised only some sherds from disturbed or surface layers, nothing associated with architecture or closed deposits. Evidence becomes clearer for the subsequent phases.
© 2017 Marathon Excavations.