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GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES & ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCHAN ADDED VALUE IN EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES AT THE SANCTUARY OF AMYKLAION IN SPARTA

THE CHALENGE

The application of innovative technological processes

in classical sciences was and is always

an interdisciplinary challenge, especially when it comes

to produce results which lead to the understanding of

the history and cultural development of a country.

APOLLO’s SANCTUARY IN AMYKLES: LOCATION AND THE WIDER AREA

ANDREAS TSATSARIS1, VASILIS PAGOUNIS1, STAVROS VLIZOS2, IOANNIS KATSIOS1

(1) Technological Educational Institute of Athens

(2) Ionian University

THE OBJECTIVE

The application

of the GeoSpatial Technologies

to support

the “Amykles Research Project”

At a distance of 5 km south-west from the center of Sparta and on the

hill of Agia Kyriaki, lie the remains of the ancient Sanctuary Amyklaion.

According to written sources (e.g. Polybius 5.19.3) the Sanctuary

constituted the cult’s most important center of the Lacedaemonians in

the ancient era. The Spartans invited from Magnesia in Asia Minor the

architect Bathykles, to design and construct the monumental and

enigmatic construction of the so-called Thronos, to surround the

already existing xoanon.

The identification of the sanctuary’s position was confirmed by the

discovery, on the hill and surrounding area, of sealed splinters from a

tiled roof, on which the words Apollo and Amyklaioi are imprinted

(Tsountas 1892, 3-4), as well as inscriptions (Tsountas 1892. Skias

1918. 32-35. Fiechter 1918, 220-223. Buschor-von Massow 1927, 61-

64. IG V 1.27, 145, 511, 823. SEG 1.87-88, 11.689-691, 11.790).

The specific area surrounding the Sanctuary is characterized by low,

smooth hills that have been shaped by the alluvial deposits of Eurotas

River. To the East, the slope of the hill is very steep, in opposition to its

other sides that are quite smooth. A small crease, or rather, a sinking

of the ground defines the hill to the West, while a slope connects it

with the wider, smoother configuration of the ground to the North.

The hill appears with an intense relief to the East while from all the

other directions it develops relatively smoothly. The elevation of

the sanctuary offers an open view to the South, framed by the

mountains of Taygetos to the West and of Parnon to the East. The

fertile ground of the area is intensively cultivated with various rural

crops.

“APOLLO”: THE ARCHAEO-SPATIAL DATABASE FOR AMYKLAION. DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION

GEOSPATIAL DATADESCRIPTIVE DATA

DIRECT

RELATIONS

A large number of applications in informatics characterize the

archaeological activity in Greece. These applications serve constant

needs of the archaeologists, from the collection of data in the field, the

record keeping and the management of evidences, up to the publication

and the dissemination of the research results to the scientific community

and to the public. Long ago, the Archaeologists have realized the

importance of spatial component in the archaeological recordings.

Exceptionally precise maps and diagrams are dated back to the 18th

century and at the first excavations are remarkable, the meticulous way

of recording the exact positions that discoveries were found.

Here we describe the elaboration of an archaeological interest

geospatial data base (GDB) application, based on the technology of

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and cooperates with existing

Management Information Systems (M.I.S) related to the monument’s

antiquities. The establishment of this GDB aims to facilitate the

permanent needs of the archaeologists with regard to organization,

management and documentation of archaeological finds in this

particular monument.

The model will be created may constitute proposal to establish an

integrated GIS that will be able to import, process and analyze all the

spatial data associated with the antiquities of the Greek territory.

SPATIAL 2D & 3D MEASUREMENTS

and REPRESENTATIONS

Amyklaion I:

Religious activity is attested by the

large number of figures and figurines.

The Mycenaean sanctuary was

established in the second half of the

13th century B.C. and continued to

prosper until the second half of the

11th century B.C.

Amyklaion II:

Cult activity in the context of

an open air sanctuary

continued through the

succeeding Early Iron Age

into Protogeometric and

Geometric times.

Amyklaion III:

First monumentalisation

phase of the hill with the

erection of the early

peribolos - retaining wall

and the colossal cult

statue during the late 8th

to the end of the 7th

century B.C.

Amyklaion IV:

Second monumentalisation phase of the

hill during the 6th century B.C. as a

response to the increased needs with

regard to both the rituals and the

increasing number of devotees. The

sanctuary is in the most prominent

shape because of the temple – so called

thronos – the circular altar and the new

peribolos-retaining wall.

Amyklaion V:

Traces on the peribolos,

fragments of architectural

members and remains of a large

building on the north end of the

hill are attesting building activity

at the sanctuary from classical

times to late antiquity (5th century

B.C. – 5th century A.D.).

Amyklaion VI:

Demolishment of the

ancient monuments and

transformation of the hill

into a cemetery and a

quarry throughout the

byzantine and post

byzantine era (11th – 19th

century A.D.).

Amyklaion VIΙ:

It is confirmed that

the church of Hagia

Kyriaki, on the top of

the homonymous

hill, exists there since

1800 and afterwards.

CHRONOLOGY: RESULTS FROM HISTORICAL SOURCES AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH OF THE MONUMENT

41st International Symposiumon Archaeometry (ISA)

The above mentioned database presents an innovative way of organizing

and processing of spatial data relating to antiquities. This innovation is based

on the following fundamental factors:

The implementation of standards to establish of Geographical Data Bases

The needs of future users for the data management,

The convenience in managing, populating, expansion and updating of the

particular GDB, and finally,

The cooperation with existing M.I.Ss.

The development of Archaeo-spatial database “Apollo” is based on the GIS

technology and cooperates with the Information Systems developed by the

“Amyklaion Research Project”. It constitutes the infrastructure for the

organization of the entire digital background of the project.

Except from the main geospatial datasets, “Apollo” includes results derived

from an accurate and precise technology (Laser Scanning) for 3D geometrical

documentation of the monument and its broad area. Laser scanning

technology provides an extremely useful way to document and protect the

spatial characteristics of the monument.

“Apollo ” Geospatial DB

PREPARENESS

EVALUATION

DIGITIZATION &

ALTERATION

PROCESSING /

IMPROVEMENT

FILTERING

ACCEPTREJECT

IMPORT

DATA COLLECTION

“Apollo" could be a valuable tool for archaeological research in Amykles,since it facilitates the organization, management and documentation of themonument through an innovative method of geospatial data processingrelated to our heritage.SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

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