The Saronic coast of the southern Corinthia provides some of the most beautiful views of Corinthian territory. It also provided for the Eastern Korinthia Archaeological Survey some of its most spectacular finds. One week spent in the area of Kalamianos near the harbor village of Korphos, for example, led to the discover of a major Mycenaean settlement—the end result being an entirely new research endeavor called the Saronic Harbors Archaeological Project. In the area of Vayia and Lychnari Bay, Bill Caraher and his extensive team found an unknown rural tower and ‘farm’ of Classical-Hellenistic date. He and I published these sites last year (with colleague Sarah James) in an article titled “Towers and Fortifications at Vayia in the Southeast Corinthia,” Hesperia 79.3 (2010), 385-415. [Vayia (PDF Offprint) *Copyright © The American School of Classical Studies at Athens]. The abstract of that piece:
“Although rural towers have long been central to the discussion of the fortified landscapes of classical and Hellenistic Greece, the Corinthia has rarely figured in the conversation, despite the historical significance of exurban fortifications for the territory. the authors of this article report on the recent investigation by the Eastern Korinthia Archaeological survey of two towers and associated fortifications in the region of Vayia in the southeast Corinthia. by integrating topographic study, intensive survey, and architectural analysis, they suggest that these three sites served to guard an economically productive stretch of the Corinthian countryside and to protect—or block—major maritime and land routes into the region.”
There is plenty of material in Bill’s archived Archaeology of the Mediterranean World blog about our work in the Lychnari Bay area. I have added to this website a series of pages in the photo gallery section:
This concludes my scanned slides of the Eastern Korinthia Archaeological Survey. Thanks again to Cindi Tomes of Messiah College’s Faculty Services for making this possible. At some point soon, I will upload scans of slides from other parts of the territory and the urban center, as well as scanned prints from EKAS.
A few of the highlights from the new galleries.
Lychnari Bay (left), Ano Vayia (right lobe), and Saconic Gulf from the coastal highway to Epidaurus. Ayioii Theodoroi smoke stacks in distance.
Lychnari Bay from the site of Ano Vayia. Oneion and the Isthmus in background.
Remains of a building of late Classical-early Hellenistic date, probably used for guarding a strategic corridor to Corinth and protecting local citizen properties.
The team discusses the crumbled remains of the tower above Lychnari Bay.
Timothy Gregory reading pottery from the Ano Vayia buildings.
Corinthian Matters 