Ινστιτούτο Μεσογειακών Σπουδών

Geophysical approaches applied in the ancient theatre of Demetriada, Volos

The city of Demetriada was constructed around 294-292 BC and became a stronghold of the Macedonian navy fleet, whereas in the Roman period it experienced significant growth and blossoming. The ancient theatre of the town was constructed at the same time with the foundation of the city, without being used for 2 centuries (1st ce. BC - 1st ce. A.D.) and being completely abandoned after the 4th ce. A.D., to be used only as a quarry for extraction of building material for Christian basilicas in the area. The theatre was found in 1809 and excavations took place in various years since 1907. Geophysical approaches were exploited recently in an effort to map the subsurface of the surrounding area of the theatre and help the reconstruction works of it. Magnetic gradiometry, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electrical Resistivity Tomogrpahy (ERT) techniques were employed for mapping the area of the orchestra and the scene of the theatre, together with the area extending to the south of the theatre. A number of features were recognized by the magnetic techniques including older excavation trenches and the pilar of the stoa of the proscenium. The different occupation phases of the area have been manifested through the employment of tomographic and stratigraphic geophysical techniques like three-dimensional ERT and GPR. Architectural orthogonal structures aligned in a S-N direction have been correlated to the already excavated buildings of the ceramic workshop. The workshop seems to expand in a large section of the area which was probably constructed after the final abandonment of the theatre.

  • Απόστολος Σαρρής
  • Νίκος Παπαδόπουλος
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2027686