Vol. 11 (2024). Αγροτικές εγκαταστάσεις των ύστερων κλασικών χρόνων

Abstract

The subject of this publication is a large-scale rural installation found at the sites of Komboloi and Douvári I and II, northeast of the community of Skotina in the regional unit of Pieria in Northern Greece, as part of public road works. This extensive rural site was established after the mid-4th century BCE, likely during the reign of Philip II, and expanded during the early post-Alexandrian period. The destruction of the central complex of the rural estate coincides with the general destruction observed in the surrounding area, which is dated to the first quarter of the 3rd century BCE, possibly during the Galatian invasion of Macedonia. The rural estate at Komboloi did not recover, unlike other nearby settlements and farmsteads, except for the auxiliary facilities at the farmsteads at Douvári, which show an additional residential phase until the 2nd century BCE.

The core of the site of Komboloi consists of a complex of two buildings, a residence, and a specially arranged storage area for pithoi, covering a space of approximately 1,368 square meters. Numerous outdoor and semi-outdoor structures were identified in the surrounding area, with the active space of the rural estate extending to 5.5 stremmas (0.55ha). Its activities were exclusively focused on vine cultivation and wine production, as initially indicated by archaeobotanical research and later confirmed by the study of the material culture.

The storage area, organized around a wooden colonnaded, stone-paved courtyard, with pithoi serving as storage vessels and wine making installations (vessels receiving the produced must), remains unique in terms of design and function. The residence likely belongs to the known type of double house with colonnaded courtyards and a central basement that included a tower.

The establishment of rural sites involved in extensive production of agricultural goods during the 4th century BCE in the Macedonian countryside has been documented by the identification of several sites over the past decades and seems to be related to the political stability and economic growth of the kingdom from the reign of Philip II onward.

The exclusive focus on viticulture and wine production, with surplus production, makes this particular rural installation notable, with its location and role in the distribution of branded wines of Macedonian land still under investigation.