Laurion: Agrileza, 1977–1983: Excavations at a Silver-Mine Site

Abstract

This account is a preliminary report on the five seasons of fieldwork undertaken at a group of silver-mine surface works in the Laurion hill district of southern Attica: the aim was to recover evidence for the history and technology of the silvermines of classical Athens. Excavations were carried on between 1977 and 1983 by the British School with the approval of the Greek Archaeological Service and indeed in one season (1981) in formal co-operation with the Service. It is a pleasure to express my gratitude to Dr Hector Catling and the Staff of the British School for their constant support and practical help; to Dr N. Yalouris, then Inspector-General of the Archaeological Service, Mrs Platon and other staff at the Ministry for their support, and to Dr V. Petrakos, Ephor of Attica, Miss I. Dekoulakou, Mr A. Liangouras and Mr E. Kakavoyiannis of the Attic Ephoreia for their interest shown in various ways; to Professor H. F. Mussche, Dr Paule Spitaels and other members of the Belgian Archaeological Mission for hospitality, much help with local facilities and loan of tools; and to Professor C. E. Conophagos, Professor R. Tylecote, and Dr N. Gale for their warm interest and expert advice. It is an equal pleasure to acknowledge the generosity and financial aid, principally of the School itself and the British Academy and also, for some campaigns, of the Russell Trust, the Science Research Council, and the University College of North Wales. Particular thanks are due to all those volunteers who helped on site, to my friends and colleagues Mr Hugh Sackett and Mr David Smyth, Honorary Surveyor to the British School, and other members of the School, some of whom, such as Dr N. V. Sekunda, Mr R. Varian, and my son Rhodri Ellis Jones, participated in several campaigns. My debt is likewise great to Nikos Trikaliotis and Sotirios Dalaretos, successive foremen 'on loan' from the Belgian Mission at Thorikos and to the teams of local workmen who worked with a will on an arid and uncomfortable site.