REPORT ON THE 2007 SEASON OF EXCAVATIONS AT THE SITE OF THE ANCIENT PAFOS THEATRE |
Dr Craig Barker and Dr Smadar Gabrieli
The University of Sydney Published September 2007 |
In July 2007, the Australian archaeological mission from the University of Sydney conducted its tenth field season at the site of the ancient theatre of Nea Pafos under the auspices of the Department of Antiquities.
The work of the mission this season concentrated on the area of the eastern parodos of the theatre. Excavation of two trenches (Trench 07A and Trench 07B) took place at the very eastern end of the theatre. Trench 07B followed the analemma wall in an eastern direction underneath the modern road surface, in an attempt to identify the original eastern entrance to the theatre. This part of the site had been badly damaged by the laying of water pipes and other service trenches in recent years. Excavations have yet to uncover Roman period surfaces, but did reveal an extensive system of interconnected cisterns, at least seven in number. These cisterns are lined with lime, most likely supplied from the breaking up and burning of columns from the theatre that had been dumped in the eastern parodos. It is possible that the complex was used for tanning leather, and we believe it to be post-medieval. It therefore adds to the information we have of the nature of the industrial, agricultural and other commercial and semi-commercial activities taking place at the location of Fabrika in the Medieval and post-Medieval periods.Future work should reveal the full extent of the structures and their chronology.
Trench 07A was opened due south of a turn in the eastern parodos which was identified in 2004. It was designed to identify the dimensions of the foundations for the Antonine platform which supported vaulting in the mid-second century AD. The edge of the platform had been discovered in 2004, and despite damage caused by the modern service-cuts, it was identified as a monumental structure, indicative of the support required to develop additional seating in the Antonine remodelling of the theatre. As expected, the support platform is of considerable size, measuring 2.5 x 17.0 metres. The eastern edge was located, and it appears to have been cut by medieval or post-medieval activity. This will be investigated in 2008. Another aim of Trench 07A was to explore the southern entrance to the parodos, which was expected to meet with the surface of the ancient road to the south of the theatre, running east-west (the theatre itself is on a slightly different alignment). Excavations revealed that there is indeed an entranceway from this direction, although much of the surface was destroyed by later activity. An unexpected findwas a monumental ashlar wall, constructed of stone blocks over one metre wide. The wall, as currently exposed, represents the northern and western walls of a structure that runs east-west, parallel to the ancient road. Assuming that the structure was facing the road, it was aboutfive metres wide, and the stone-wall so far exposed extends seventeen metres to the east. Because the wall, unlike the theatre, is on an east-west alignment, the Antonine platform was modified to accommodate it, thus indicating that the structure is at least earlier than the second century AD, but probably Hellenistic. Its full dimensions and function will be determined in future seasons, but it seems to be a public building located near the ancient North-East city gate, perhaps a stoa.
We expect that future investigations will clarify the flow of the audience in and out of the theatre during ancient performances, and will give indication of the urbanisation of this north-eastern quarter of the ancient city of Nea Pafos.
A third trench (Trench 07C) completed the exposure of the area of the foundations of the second century AD proscenium (stage building) wall that had yet to be excavated. Unfortunately much of the stone had been taken away during the fifth century quarrying [and abandonment process] that followed the destruction of the theatre structure. The overall line of the stage building and orchestra edge is, however, known from its excavation further west and east. As expected, Trench 07C exposed some more of the second century AD pipe that was used to supply water for the fountains that played from the front of the stage; and the trench did pick up the continuation of the Antonine-period stage front, known from further west. The trench added little new information to our overall understanding of the area of the stage building, but provided further confirmation of the identification of at least five major phases of rebuilding and reconstruction in Antiquity, as the structure was restored following earthquakes, or changed to accommodate new trends and fashions in popular entertainment.
Almost the entire area of the stage building as well as the orchestra has now been excavated, and a large part of it has been backfilled for its protection. The cavea has now largely been cleared. The parodoi remain the main sections of the theatre itself that require future archaeological investigation.
As well as excavation, work proceeded on processing finds for the forthcoming publication of the first decade of work on the Paphos theatre site. Special emphasis was placed this year on marble and other architectural elements.
A full season report is currently being completed for submission to the Report of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus.
The work of the mission this season concentrated on the area of the eastern parodos of the theatre. Excavation of two trenches (Trench 07A and Trench 07B) took place at the very eastern end of the theatre. Trench 07B followed the analemma wall in an eastern direction underneath the modern road surface, in an attempt to identify the original eastern entrance to the theatre. This part of the site had been badly damaged by the laying of water pipes and other service trenches in recent years. Excavations have yet to uncover Roman period surfaces, but did reveal an extensive system of interconnected cisterns, at least seven in number. These cisterns are lined with lime, most likely supplied from the breaking up and burning of columns from the theatre that had been dumped in the eastern parodos. It is possible that the complex was used for tanning leather, and we believe it to be post-medieval. It therefore adds to the information we have of the nature of the industrial, agricultural and other commercial and semi-commercial activities taking place at the location of Fabrika in the Medieval and post-Medieval periods.Future work should reveal the full extent of the structures and their chronology.
Trench 07A was opened due south of a turn in the eastern parodos which was identified in 2004. It was designed to identify the dimensions of the foundations for the Antonine platform which supported vaulting in the mid-second century AD. The edge of the platform had been discovered in 2004, and despite damage caused by the modern service-cuts, it was identified as a monumental structure, indicative of the support required to develop additional seating in the Antonine remodelling of the theatre. As expected, the support platform is of considerable size, measuring 2.5 x 17.0 metres. The eastern edge was located, and it appears to have been cut by medieval or post-medieval activity. This will be investigated in 2008. Another aim of Trench 07A was to explore the southern entrance to the parodos, which was expected to meet with the surface of the ancient road to the south of the theatre, running east-west (the theatre itself is on a slightly different alignment). Excavations revealed that there is indeed an entranceway from this direction, although much of the surface was destroyed by later activity. An unexpected findwas a monumental ashlar wall, constructed of stone blocks over one metre wide. The wall, as currently exposed, represents the northern and western walls of a structure that runs east-west, parallel to the ancient road. Assuming that the structure was facing the road, it was aboutfive metres wide, and the stone-wall so far exposed extends seventeen metres to the east. Because the wall, unlike the theatre, is on an east-west alignment, the Antonine platform was modified to accommodate it, thus indicating that the structure is at least earlier than the second century AD, but probably Hellenistic. Its full dimensions and function will be determined in future seasons, but it seems to be a public building located near the ancient North-East city gate, perhaps a stoa.
We expect that future investigations will clarify the flow of the audience in and out of the theatre during ancient performances, and will give indication of the urbanisation of this north-eastern quarter of the ancient city of Nea Pafos.
A third trench (Trench 07C) completed the exposure of the area of the foundations of the second century AD proscenium (stage building) wall that had yet to be excavated. Unfortunately much of the stone had been taken away during the fifth century quarrying [and abandonment process] that followed the destruction of the theatre structure. The overall line of the stage building and orchestra edge is, however, known from its excavation further west and east. As expected, Trench 07C exposed some more of the second century AD pipe that was used to supply water for the fountains that played from the front of the stage; and the trench did pick up the continuation of the Antonine-period stage front, known from further west. The trench added little new information to our overall understanding of the area of the stage building, but provided further confirmation of the identification of at least five major phases of rebuilding and reconstruction in Antiquity, as the structure was restored following earthquakes, or changed to accommodate new trends and fashions in popular entertainment.
Almost the entire area of the stage building as well as the orchestra has now been excavated, and a large part of it has been backfilled for its protection. The cavea has now largely been cleared. The parodoi remain the main sections of the theatre itself that require future archaeological investigation.
As well as excavation, work proceeded on processing finds for the forthcoming publication of the first decade of work on the Paphos theatre site. Special emphasis was placed this year on marble and other architectural elements.
A full season report is currently being completed for submission to the Report of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus.