The ancient path of ‘lithagogia’ (the conveyance of stone — λιθαγωγία foo1), which was the actual road leading from the marble quarries of Penteli in Athens, revealed in Chalandri from the E th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, chaired by Joanne Drakotou. This is particularly important discovery as via the road’s route the marbles of Pentelikon were carried to Athens for the monuments of the Acropolis construction. For the first time, a small part of this route is been excavated — what was identified by rescue excavation on private land located at 133 Avenue Pentelis (including roads Parnithos, Messinia and Laconia) and a distance of about 80 meters south of Chalandri’s water stream. The recognition and identification of the ancient route did the archaeologist of the E th Ephorate, Melpo Pologiorgi.
Three pavements has been calculated that the ancient street had, but so far only the upper level of those is been investigated. It has even chariots’ tracks, which one of them is clearly visible to the north.
The road was discovered across the width of the land, which has a maximum length of 19.70 m, while the maximum width is 3.30 m. On both sides of the saved protecting walls which supported the pavements and have been constructed of compressed earth containing pottery sherds and small stones.
The best-preserved part of the excavated route is at the south of the Pentelis Avenue. To the inner side of the road, the structure consists mainly of raw stones and small river stones and gravel. A makeshift wall also made of stones and river gravel, which is located at a distance of 5.40 meters from the site at the north (on the side of Chalandri’s water stream) and goes in parallel to the ancient route is considered to act as a dike for protection in case of heavy floods.
Among the artifacts and findings that have been emerged have been distinguished a lead measured weight, a bronze cap nails, a measurement sealed for wine amphora with an oenochoe, and a copper coin of the Franks occupation of Attica, which was found also on the northern route of the ancient route, and possibly is an indication that the road was in use during the Medieval times. Of course, according to the archaeological report there are plenty of remains of ancient pottery.
It should be underlined that initial identification of the ancient remains became by the archaeologist of the B nd Ephorate, Dede Lioni while the excavation conducted by the archaeologist, Giouli Papageorgiou, under the guidance and supervision of archaeologist M. Pologiorgi. Currently as the suburban areas (such as Chalandri) of Athens are under archaeological testing, important antiquities come to light enriching the knowledge of ancient history of Attica.
Source(s): To Vima, Ministry of Culture.
1 See Liddell and Scott at Perseus.
