Fig. 1 Area 1, the upper ends of shipsheds 1, η and parts of χ are preserved in the basement apartment block (Sirangiou 1) in the background. This photograph was taken during the excavation of the colonnade that divides shipsheds 1 and η. Photographer: Bjørn Lovén/© ZHP 2003

Fig. 2 Mads Moeller Nielsen excavating the colonnade that divides shipsheds 1 and η. He is dictating his excavation notes to Mette K. Schaldemose via an underwater communication system. Ioannis Triantafillidis is responsible for the machinery supporting the dive, and is present also for safety reasons. Photographer: Bjørn Lovén/© ZHP 2003

Fig. 3 The colonnade dividing shipsheds 1 and η, the southern part of the first rock-cut foundation trench for a column base. Visible to the left is a part of the raised side-passage, the working area of the hauling crew. Photographer: Bjørn Lovén/© ZHP 2003

Fig. 4 Mads Moeller Nielsen working inside the Enclosure System during a nine hour long dive in the worst possible diving conditions. Photographer: Bjørn Lovén/© ZHP 2003

The excavation of shipshed η was completed for now, since, to our regret, the lower end of this building has been destroyed by a combination of erosion and intrusive dredging carried out when the marina was constructed in the 1960'ies. The dredging cut runs through the colonnade dividing shipsheds 1 and η, the northern side-passage, and continues through the northern part of η’'s ramp structure. From this point the cut appears to be less deep, and it continues through the ramp and the southern side passage. A condition assessment of the area west (to the seaside) of the cut determined that this area is severely damaged and we decided not to excavate this area in order not to compromise possible remains of the building.

The colonnade dividing shipsheds 1 and η was excavated for 10.5 m from the modern quay to the dredging cut (fig. 2). The excavation revealed three rock-cut column base foundation cuttings, so well preserved that the chisel marks from their construction were still visible (fig. 3). The column bases are not preserved, but in the western-most foundation trench rock fragments with chisel marks were found in what may be remains of the original fill. These rock fragments are probably from the construction of the shipsheds, if so, the tool marks will provide information on the tools used for carving the rock-cut parts of the buildings.

Two rock-cut foundation trenches for column bases in the colonnade dividing shipsheds η and χ were excavated. After careful surface cleaning to the west of the western-most foundation cutting, it became obvious that the bedrock in this area is crumbling and large pieces are flaking off. It was decided not to excavate this area until a method of consolidating the bedrock has been developed. Towards the end of the project period cleaning of the colonnade area dividing shipsheds χ and φ revealed a foundation trench close to the dredging cut with the column base (or column base foundation block) still in situ. We experienced extremely bad visibility during this part of the excavation, and it would not have been possible to work without the Mark II version of the Enclosure System (fig. 4). The excavated areas were backfilled with sand to protect the exposed structures.

The submerged column bases (or column base foundation blocks) and column base foundation cuttings in the four colonnades dividing shipsheds 1/η,η/χ, χ/φ and φ/π are parallel to each other. The colonnades line up perfectly with the remains of the colonnades preserved in the basement and on the pavement of Sirangiou 1.

The colonnades change at some point from the alternating 2.16-2.18 m and 3.38-3.39 m inter axial spacing (the distance from column centre to column centre in a colonnade) in the upper end of the shipsheds to a parallel architectural layout in the lower end of the shipsheds. This is a strong structural indication of two building phases in shipsheds 1, η, χ and φ, and the superstructure of these shipsheds underwent major rebuilding, but the chronology of the building phases has not yet been established. On the basis of structural evidence an earlier building phase was also recognized in the submerged part of shipshed χ’s ramp.

Several remains of roof-tiles similar to those found in the deposit in the basement of Sirangiou 1 in 2002 were excavated in shipshed η, and their distribution indicates that they belong to the roof of the shipsheds.

During the underwater survey in Area 1 and 2 we found evidence which strongly indicates that the ramps were longer than anticipated in the past. In Area 2 we located a shipshed that would be 53.5 m long if the back wall of the Sirangiou shipsheds is extended into this area. The ramp of shipshed 1 appears to be about 52.5 m measured to the back wall, which is why we wish to survey and excavate the lower end of this shipshed in 2004. Previously we thought that the ramps were 50.50 m, but cleaning of the lower part of shipshed χ, on which the 50.50 m measurement was based, determined that the lower end of this shipshed had suffered considerable destruction and that it in all probability is not preserved to its original length.

In Area 2 we discovered two shipsheds built on top of each other. The buildings have different orientations, and apart from the two different phases of shipsheds, the architectural structures also show that this section of the shipshed complex changed orientation at some point in time. We assume that the first building phase belongs to the 5th century BC, and the second building phase to the 4th century BC, but further investigation is needed to determine the chronology of the building phases, which is why we plan to excavate these shipsheds in October - November 2004.

Before the investigations of the Zea Harbour Project we had only the historical late 330’s BC date of the Zea shipsheds. The investigations this year clearly show that there are more building phases in the Zea shipsheds, and one of our most important research aims is that we will be able to present a more complete chronological picture of the Zea harbour through the centuries in which it was in use as a naval harbour.

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2003 field team: Mette K. Schaldemose, Sigrid Rasdal Eliassen, Evangelia Fragou, Annie Hooton, Charles Pochin, Richard C. Anderson, Ioannis Triantafillidis, Mads Møller Nielsen and Bjørn Lovén. Information Technology team: Rebekka Carlson, Mikkel Mayerhofer and Jeppe Christensen.