News - High above the Sea

From left: Kerry is quot;shooting" while David checks the results during a survey of a large round tower. Ioannis "marks" the points to be surveyed on the blocks.

Mads Møller Nielsen rappelling during cleaning and inspection of the ancient fortification wall. Mads received special climbing training from a professional climbing school in Greece in order to work safely during the survey. Hard work under the burning sun, but worthwhile!

From left: Noah, Kerry and David inspecting the results during the survey of the coastal fortifications on Koumoundouros Hill.

Author: Bjørn Lovén & Mads Møller Nielsen

The last day of the 2007 land season — work begins at seven o’clock sharp so that we can stay out of the burning sun as long as possible. It has been the hottest summer in several years (47 degrees Celsius in Athens on the worst day) and here on the Aegean coast we have also struggled with high humidity. Nevertheless, our team has made steady progress with excellent results.

Learning comes fast and furious for the students who have had to master survey techniques using a Total Station, how to work with 3D ‘point clouds’ in CAD (Computer Aided Design) software and how to properly photograph archaeological remains.

Work on the Koumoundouros Hill is very difficult, as the costal fortifications are often placed directly on the edge of the rocky cliff.

We expect to learn many interesting aspects of the fortifications during the next two weeks of post-processing. Once again we have been surprised by the abundance of ancient remains preserved in and around Mounichia Harbour.

We wish to thank the Carlsberg Foundation, the American Friends of the Zea Harbour Project (who sponsored the field school for three students from Yale University) for their generous support of the project, and Mr. Martzoukos, Director of the N.O.E. (Yacht Club of Greece) and his staff for their help and hospitality.