News - Flying Solo

Sanne shooting while Madeline marks points using the prism in "The Cave"

Sanne and Madeline cleaning the wall in Section 6

Mads teaching Sanne and Madeline how to properly measure and describe the features of Section 6

Madeline shooting while Sanne marks points using the prism in Section 6

Author: Madeline Kelly and Sanne Hoffmann

This week, after nearly a month of navigating the obstacle course of pipes and blocks in the "The Cave", the team emerged from the cramped darkness and gratefully embraced the fresh air and sunshine bathing Koumoundourou Hill. The result of our work is a beautiful 3D-computerized drawing of the podium retaining wall. Although the inaccessibility of the site prevents the wall from being casually viewed, our 3D model will ensure that these structural remains receive the attention and study their significant place in history demands.

Our escape from "The Cave" did not mean an end to our work. We, the students, were unleashed on an entirely "new" wall known as Section 6. Flying solo for the first time, we put our skills to the test and assumed responsibility for the wall’s surveying. Before the wall’s features could be studied, it had to be cleaned of dirt and plants. Each block of the newly cleaned wall was then measured and described, following guidelines established by Mads Møller Nielsen. Then came the big test: setting up the Total Station on a new site and making a new grid. Luckily, after some debate over the value of certain set ups, we succeeded, with only a handful of questions to our mentor Eva Mortensen, whom we hope we did proud! We have begun surveying and hopefully this work will continue to go smoothly, allowing us to finish the wall during next week.

Already we have noticed several pry-marks on the wall; the majority of which are found on the faces of blocks rather than on the top. This placement indicates that these blocks are not in their original setting. Whether they were moved in ancient or modern times has yet to be established and we hope to receive greater insight into the wall’s timeline during further investigations of the site.

Turning our attention to the wall has been met with excitement from the locals. The owner of a cafe neighbouring Section 6 was particularly pleased to see the wall that he has been passing for 20 years on his way to work finally receive the archaeological treatment he knew it merited. He expressed regret that, given its out of the way location, the significance of the wall had remained unacknowledged for so long and was so happy to have us here that he has now provided the team with free beverages on several occasions – which we certainly do appreciate.

This week is finishing off for us in a very exciting manner. The ZHP-team is going on a team-building trip to Northern Greece. We are staying in Thessaloniki and will visit the local metro-excavations in addition to several other interesting, archaeological sites in the area. We are very excited for this, since, as we know, nothing binds a group together better than archaeological sightseeing!