Internet Archaeol. 24. Ellis et al. Sub-phase 1

5.1 Sub-phase 1 (dark grey; Figs 18-19)

Figure 18: The East Field at Isthmia, Sub-Phase 1, Plan and Harris Matrix.
Figure 19: The East Field at Isthmia, Sub-Phase 1, Model.

The earliest structural sub-phase is identified in just two walls in the eastern area of the excavated field that were destroyed for the construction of the subsequent building. Traces of a floor may also be attributed to this building. The paucity of these remains and their partial recovery have limited our understanding of the type of structure to which they belonged. A cursory examination of some pottery found by our project within the exposed foundations of this phase suggests a date in the 2nd century CE. This would correspond with other 2nd-century CE building activities across the site (for 2nd century CE activity at Isthmia: Gebhard 1973, 143), though clearly a more reliable and tighter date could be derived from stratigraphic excavation in the near future. A tunnel was cut from above through the junction of the two walls during a much later sub-phase (Sub-phase 12), indicating that the builders of the tunnel were probably unaware of the existence of this early building (Figure 20).

Figure 20: The East Field at Isthmia, entrance to the later tunnel, looking west. Inset: circular feature, looking north-west.

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