Bjørn Lovén & Mads Møller Nielsen
Fig. 1: Zea Harbour, Area designation.
Fig. 2: Stuart M. Heath inspects the ramp of Shipshed φ, Zea (Bjørn Lovén/ © ZHP 2006).
Fig. 3: Artistic reconstruction of the Phase II shipsheds, Zea (Ioannis Nakas/ © ZHP 2006).
Fig. 4: Structures 1 and 2 in Area 4, Zea (Mads Møller Nielsen/ © ZHP 2006).
Fig. 5: Survey of the Limen Kleistos, Area 9, Mounichia (Bjørn Lovén/ © ZHP 2006).
Fig 6: Survey of the Tower M-T3 in Area 10, Mounichia (Bjørn Lovén/ © ZHP 2006).
Fig. 7: Documentation under water in Area 10, Mounichia (Athena L. Trakadas / © ZHP 2006).
Fig. 8: Foundation of Tower M-T3 in Area 10, Mounichia (Stuart Martin Heath / © ZHP 2006).
Fig. 9: Students from Yale University during survey of the shipsheds in the basement of Sirangiou 1, Zea (Mads Møller Nielsen/ © ZHP 2006).
Fig. 10: Rock-cut foundations for harbour fortifications in Area 3, Zea. (Mads Møller Nielsen/ © ZHP 2006).
Fig. 11: Survey of Tower P-T2, Peira?ki (Mads Møller Nielsen/ © ZHP 2006).
Fig. 12: Yale student surveying the Lower Hill, Koumoundourou, in Area 10, Mounichia (Mads Møller Nielsen/ © ZHP 2006).
Fig. 13: Bjørn Lovén, during inspection of Upper Hill, Koumoundourou, Area 10, Mounichia (Mads Møller Nielsen/ © ZHP 2006).

1. UNDERWATER INVESTIGATIONS 2006

INTRODUCTION
Selected areas in the Zea harbour; eastern (Area 1), south-eastern (Area 3) the south western (Area 4) were excavated and surveyed (Fig. 1). In Mounichia the southern part of the limen kleistos was cleaned and surveyed. Work was stopped on November the 30th 2006.

ZEA HARBOUR

Zea, Area 1
Three building phases have been identified during the research and fieldwork carried out on the Area 1 shipsheds in 2006. The earliest, phase (Phase I), is defined by rock-cut features found in four of the ramps, in all probability for transverse timbers (Fig 2). No features can be related with certainty to the superstructure of these ramps.

They could either have been ramps for shipsheds or uncovered slipways. Phase II consisted of monumental stone shipsheds, the remains of which are clearly defined in the sea and indicated on Dörpfeld’s plan and sections. Phase III is the 4th century extensions into double shipshed.

Preliminary research suggested that the Phase III shipsheds used the Phase II shipsheds as foundations, and that the Phase II structures were completely overbuilt. No diagnostic finds were made in the few stratified deposits excavated underwater in Area 1.

We know that most shipsheds were destroyed in 404/403 BC at the end of the Peloponnesian War, and the reused column drums reported by Dragátsis and found in Shipshed η could belong to the Phase II shipsheds, or from another colonnaded building.

This indicates that building Phases I and II belong to the 5th century BC. This is only a preliminary finding, but it is fascinating that the triremes that fought in the Peloponnesian War could have been housed in the Phase II shipsheds (Fig. 3), and even more fascinating is to imagine the ships that would have stood on the Phase I ramps.

Zea, Area 3
In the southeastern part of Zea rock cut features were surface cleaned and electronically surveyed using a total station. Focus was on surface cleaning, the identification and survey of underwater features and foundation trenches. Some of the areas were heavily silted and/or covered by modern debris.

Several very interesting features were identified in the area. Most noticeable were circular cuttings, probably from a foundation trench for a round tower or platform at the southern-most end of Area 3 (Fig. 1).

Further, two building phases were identified in the rock-cut foundations for the fortification wall running along the harbour mouth. (See also land investigations, Zea, Area 3, below).

Zea, Area 4: northwestern part
In the northern corner south of the Olympiakos club, two different, and possibly un-related structures were found; Structures 1 and 2 (Fig. 4). Both are very well preserved and in situ. Structure 1 consists of one long, contiguous row of 17 large, rectangular limestone blocks lying on a roughly northeast-southwest orientation.

Structure 2 is a long contiguous row of large rectangular limestone blocks. The blocks are preserved c. 11.5 m from the quay, on a roughly north-south orientation. The structure ran under two large yachts, making survey impossible. The complete area requires thorough cleaning to adequately register the extensive remains under these yachts.

Therefore it was only possible to survey a small section of this structure, the number of blocks cleaned and surveyed does not adequately represent the full extent of the preserved structure or the number of blocks present. Six different blocks from the structure have been preliminary-surveyed, out of an estimated 12.

Of the blocks recorded almost all have small rectangular cuttings in their corners, c. 0.08 m wide.

Zea, Area 4: southwestern part
A rock-cut foundation trench was surveyed underwater with total station. The cutting runs c. 21.0 m from land (surveyed in 2005) into the sea and is c. 1.12 m wide.

This cutting was constructed on a similar orientation as the ancient fortifications preserved under the road west of the quarry. Whether this indicates a relationship in chronology and/or use is still unclear. It is situated further to the south of the presumed area of the Limen Kleistos, and hence outside the actual harbour.

It is possible that this cutting could have been related to a phase of the ancient harbour fortifications, or perhaps even an outer quay. Extensive quarrying cuts were also surveyed in this area.

MOUNICHIA HARBOUR (MIKROLIMANO)

The Zea Harbour Project has formerly shown that extensive remains of the northern Limen Kleistos Tower 1 (M-T1) is preserved in Area 1, and that there was a good possibility for finding the southern portion in Areas 9 and possibly 10, outside the modern harbour. There might also be a possibility for locating shipshed remains in Areas 7 and 8.

Mounichia, Area 8
Two areas of interest were found during survey dives and documented with a total station:

A) A cluster of three large rectangular limestone blocks were located in situ, with additional, smaller blocks in the vicinity that might also be in situ. The latter have not been surveyed due to the fact that they lie immediately under vessels moored to the jetty extending from the quay in front of the Restaurant Ιστιοπλοικος.

B) Two large, rectangular limestone blocks were located in situ, several metres from the quay also in front of the restaurant Ιστιοπλοικος. They are very well preserved and lie directly on top of bedrock, adjacent to one another. Together, these blocks possibly form a column base or column base foundation block, which may belong to the Mounichia shipsheds.

Mounichia, Area 9
The area in front of and immediately to the east of the rowing club Olympiakos was surveyed (Fig. 5). All structural features; the space between blocks, clear corners and edges, are features that are either severely eroded or covered in beach rock.

However, surveys carried out in Area 10 were especially helpful in clarifying the situation, and in identifying the structures here.

Several areas of what were initially ancient structural foundations made of large rectangular limestone blocks were recognised in the area outside of Olympiakos, and also under the modern breakwater (which is essentially re-used limestone blocks in all probability from ancient harbour structures).

Similar features were also visible inside of breakwater, under the modern jetty in the Olympiakos club area. The survey of this area will enable us to reconstruct preliminarily the extent of what can now be interpreted as the southern part of the ancient Limen Kleistos of Mounichia: probably the Tower 2 (M-T2) foundations.

Mounichia, Area 10
Surveys showed extensive structures in Area 10, including walls and tower foundations (Tower 2 (M-T2)) (Fig. 6, 7), possibly with different structural phases and/or building techniques. Some of these features are still in situ (Fig. 8).

Moreover, three courses of the foundation for the tower, at least on the southern and eastern sides, are preserved. It is difficult, however, to assess the number of extant courses clearly due to extensive encrustation and marine growth, as well as the presence of beach rock.

The tower also has swell/surge lines evident at a depth of at least c. -1.90 m, although these lines are not necessarily direct indications of ancient sea levels.

Area 10 also included an area where blocks were embedded in beach rock. Whether these blocks are in situ or not is problematic and difficult to define at present.

However, the beach rock has inclusions of several pieces ceramic material. Finally a large number of architectural elements were found in the vicinity of Tower M-T3. Sixteen blocks were selected for description as each had obvious features of interest.

Underwater team
Dr. Dimitrios Kourkoumelis, supervisor from the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities; Bjørn Lovén, co-director; Panagiotis Athanasopoulos, archaeologist; Niels Bargfeldt, archaeology student; Sigrid Rasdal Eliassen, architect; Stuart Martin Heath, archaeologist and technician; Mads Møller Nielsen, archaeologist, Chryssanthi Papadopoulou, archaeologist; Charles W.D. Pochin, archaeologist and technician; Ioannis Sapountzis archaeologist; Mette Schaldemose, archaeologist; Athena L. Trakadas, archaeologist; Ioannis Triantafillidis, archaeologist; Vassilis Tsiairis, archaeologist.

2. LAND INVESTIGATIONS 2006

During the project period June 5th to July 18th 2006, two towers in the Peiraϊki (Tower 1 (P-T1) and Tower 2 (P-T2)) were surveyed, along with the Zea shipsheds preserved in the basement of Sirangiou 1 (Area 1) and the structural remains of the ancient harbour fortifications of Zea, Area 3 (Fig 1).

A part of the fortifications on the Koumoundourou Hill south of Mikrolimano was also surveyed (Mounichia).

Zea, Area 1
The upper part of Shipsheds 1, η and χ in the basement of Sirangiou 1 were surveyed using a total station system in 2001 and in 2002. Since then, this survey technique has been refined and developed considerably. The basement was therefore re-surveyed during the period of July 3rd and August 3rd 2006 in order to revise the dataset accordingly (Fig. 9).

Zea, Area 3
During the land survey, an inspection of the area next to the modern harbour wall was undertaken in order to identify the structural remains of the ancient harbour fortifications at Zea. Cuttings were cleaned, photographed and electronically surveyed with total station (Fig. 10).

Several cuttings were located along the harbour wall, though many are in poor condition due to deterioration of the bedrock. Rock cut foundations were found from the southern most end of Area 3 (Fig. 1), to the tower at its northern end and are preserved in the sea as on land.

At a point between the southern-most end and the remains of the ancient Limen Kleistos, the cuttings change orientation, this change coincides with a cutting that extends outwards towards the harbour. This latter feature is probably the remaining foundations for a tower on the outer face of the wall. (See also underwater investigations, Zea, Area 3 above).

Survey in Peiraϊki
Work was carried out on two structures: (P-T1) - Tower 1 (Themistokleou 140-142) and (P-T2) - Tower 2 (Themistokleou 130) (Fig. 11). The structures were surface cleaned and electronically surveyed.

Mounichia (Mikrolimano), Koumoundourou Hill
The Lower Hill, south of the M-T3 outside Mikrolimano harbour (M-T3 is visible in the background behind the black zodiac, Fig. 12), where structural remains of the ancient fortifications of Piraeus were located and photographed by the ZHP in 2005, was electronically surveyed in 2006.

Electronic survey and registration was conducted using a total station, though only on a preliminary basis since the structures were unstable and direct contact with them was impossible (Fig. 11).

The Upper Hill was inspected and photographed on a preliminary basis (Fig. 13) in order to get an idea of the possible extent of the harbour fortifications preserved on top of the hill in the area above the structures surveyed below.

Land survey team
Sophia Michalopoulou, supervisor from the 26th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities; Bjørn Lovén, co-director; Mette Schaldemose, archaeologist; Sigrid Rasdal Eliassen, architect; Mads Møller Nielsen, archaeologist; David Mixter, student; Michael Barry, student; Milica Vujovic, student.