Crete tourist guide

An unexpected find in Chania

2022-12-10 19:38:47

In Greece, it is not easy to carry out renovations and investments requiring earthworks. There is a good chance that after sticking a shovel into the ground, the remains of old historical buildings will be found. Then, further work is stopped, and archaeologists enter the area. In turn their actions can stop all other work even for a long time. Therefore, when the remains of an ancient building were discovered during a planned renovation near 1866 Square in Chania, it raised understandable concerns about the future of the renovations being carried out.

The photos come from the website www.haniotika-nea.gr

1866 Square in Chania is basically a small square located at the end of Chalidon Street, which is the main tourist promenade of the city. In its vicinity, the renovation of the water supply and electricity networks has recently started. Remains of an ancient building were found in a ditch dug as part of the work. The first evidence indicates that it is most likely a fragment of a public building from the 4th century BC. Although the area hides the remains of old buildings, the engineers conducting the work did not expect that their discovery would turn out to be so significant.

After the discovery was reported, a team of archaeologists entered the site and are now trying to identify the find. It is possible that a fragment of the wall of another building was found in this place. At this point, these are just guesses. Eleni Papadopoulou, head of the Ephorate of Antiquities in Chania, said it is not easy to tell at this point whether they are dealing with a fragment of one or two buildings because the excavation is small in width. The carved stones that have been found indicate, however, that it was a public and not private building. Numerous fragments of pottery from the 4th century BC have also been found. However, archaeologists do not rule out the possibility that even older artifacts and remains can be found below the level at which the works are currently being carried out.

So far, the teams from the water and sewage company, which had to stop work, have been moved a little further to the Chortatson Square, right next to the renovated Market Hall. However, it is assumed that conducting deeper excavations in this place may lead to finding a fragment of the old Venetian city wall that existed in this place. Such a cover would mean another suspension of the work of the repair team and the entry of archaeologists into the area of the find.

As you can see, the everyday life of construction crews in Greece can be quite difficult and surprising. Not only do they have to take into account the challenges related to the specificity of their profession, but they also have to remember that even the smallest earthworks can be the beginning of an extraordinary archaeological find.

Gosia,  2022-12-10 19:38:47

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