Between the 11th and the 21st December 2008 a geophysical survey was carried out on the site of the ancient city of Nikopolis (Epirus – Greece), founded in the late first century BC, and in its surrounding landscape. The archaeological potential of nine areas of interest was evaluated and the nature of present archaeology characterized. During the project, an area of approximately 49200 square meters was surveyed. The results of fluxgate magnetometer and earth resistance survey are presented within this book. Main results are the discovery of several archaeological features (probably roads and walls) within the walled city area, the discovery of adjacent buildings belonging to a bath complex situated north of the ancient city and the discovery of a road connecting the city with the stadium and the sacred grove in the northern suburb. The results are presented in the context of the research on Nikopolis. The role of geophysical prospection for the research on Roman urbanism is discussed as the general framework of the presented case study.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Aims and Objectives
Structure
Chapter 1
Geographical setting
Geology
Geomorphology
Climate
Topography of the city
Chapter 2
Research on Nikopolis
Chapter 3
Field procedure
Scientific principles
Magnetometry
Earth resistance survey
Grids
Sampling interval and instruments: Magnetometry
Discussion of the equipment
Sampling interval and instrument: Earth resistance survey
Factors limiting the geophysical survey
Chapter 4
Data processing and software
Chapter 5
Survey areas and results
Area 1
Area 2
Area 3
Area 4
Area 5
Area 6
Comparison with the data of the Dutch survey
Area 7
Area 8
Area 9
Chapter 6
The role of geophysical prospection for the research of Roman urbanism
Case studies
Chapter 7
Conclusion - Outlook on further research on Nikopolis
Appendix 1
The battle of Actium and the foundation of Nikopolis
The state of Epirus at the time of Nikopolis’ foundation
Appendix 2
Important ancient sources on Nikopolis
Appendix 3
Dekker, van de Locht (2008), 82. Quotation
Appendix 4
Objectives and Research Themes
The primary aim of this work is to present the results of a geophysical prospection project conducted at the ancient site of Nikopolis in Greece. It seeks to evaluate the archaeological potential of selected areas and to integrate these findings into the broader context of Roman urbanism and the historical development of the city.
- Geophysical investigation of nine distinct areas within and around Nikopolis.
- Methodological application and discussion of fluxgate magnetometry and earth resistance surveys.
- Analysis of the urban layout, identifying street grids, walls, and potential bath complexes.
- Evaluation of the role of non-destructive geophysical techniques in landscape archaeology.
- Contextualization of the research within the site's history, from Augustan foundation to its Byzantine era.
Excerpt from the Book
Geology
The Ambracian Gulf is a graben, separated from the Ionian Sea by numerous uplifts. One of these is the Preveza Peninsula. Immediately to the north of the city a valley forms the “Nikopolis Isthmus”, on which the northern suburb of ancient Nikopolis was constructed. Proceeding further north from the valley, a further uplift area is encountered, regarding a model proposed by King (Fig. 6) (King et al., 1993 cited in Dekker, van de Locht, 2008). Following King, the Preveza Peninsula is being uplifted while the Ambracian Gulf is subsiding (King et al., 1993 cited in Dekker, van de Locht, 2008). Recent research questioned this model (Pashos, 2003 cited in Dekker, van de Locht, 2008) interpreting the southern edge of the Nikopolis Isthmus as a fault, and not as domes, as proposed by King. Latest research suggests that these models are not `mutually exclusive´ and proposed that `north of the Nikopolis Isthmus a domed structure is located that is cut off by a fault or fault zone´ (Dekker, van de Locht, 2008, 45). Oldest deposits in the vicinity of Nikopolis are
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Provides an overview of the geographical and geological conditions of the Nikopolis region and describes the topography of the ancient city.
Chapter 2: Outlines the historical research carried out at Nikopolis, starting from early visits in the 15th century to modern systematic archaeological endeavors.
Chapter 3: Details the field procedures and scientific principles behind the magnetometry and earth resistance surveys applied during the project.
Chapter 4: Describes the technical workflow, software tools, and data processing steps utilized to interpret the raw geophysical signals.
Chapter 5: Presents the primary results of the survey across nine specific areas, offering interpretations of the identified archaeological features.
Chapter 6: Discusses the methodological value of geophysical prospection in understanding Roman urbanism, supported by comparative case studies from various sites.
Chapter 7: Summarizes the findings and provides an outlook on future research requirements, emphasizing the need for multi-methodological approaches.
Keywords
Nikopolis, Epirus, Geophysical Prospection, Magnetometry, Earth Resistance, Landscape Archaeology, Roman Urbanism, Augustan City, Byzantine Nikopolis, Archaeological Survey, GIS, Site Management, Data Processing, Urban Layout, Roman Colony.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this publication?
The book presents the findings of a 2008 geophysical survey project at the ancient city of Nikopolis, focusing on the evaluation of nine distinct archaeological areas and the nature of the buried features discovered.
What are the main research themes covered?
The research centers on identifying architectural remains such as roads and wall systems, analyzing the urban fabric of Roman Nikopolis, and exploring the utility of non-destructive geophysical techniques for site management and planning.
What is the central research question?
The work aims to clarify the spatial layout of Nikopolis through modern technology and to evaluate how geophysical prospection can contribute to our understanding of Roman urbanism when traditional excavation is limited by scale or financial constraints.
Which scientific methods are primarily utilized?
The researchers mainly employed fluxgate magnetometry and earth resistance surveys, complemented by software-based data processing and spatial analysis using GIS to interpret subsurface anomalies.
What content is included in the main body of the text?
The main text covers the geological and geographical setting of the site, a historical review of past research, technical descriptions of the field procedures, detailed reporting of survey results in nine areas, and a broader discussion of the methodology within the context of Roman urban archaeology.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Nikopolis, geophysical prospection, magnetometry, Roman urbanism, archaeological survey, and landscape archaeology.
What is the significance of the "northern suburb" of Nikopolis?
The northern suburb was a dedicated space for the Actian games, featuring a sacred grove, a stadium, a gymnasium, and a theater, which demonstrate the metropolitan character of the Augustan foundation.
How does this document approach the comparison with other Roman sites?
Chapter 6 and 7 contextualize the results by comparing the geophysical outcomes at Nikopolis with other major Roman sites like Falerii Novi, Wroxeter, Carnuntum, and Butrint to highlight the success and limitations of these methods.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dr. Michael Teichmann (Autor:in), Konstantinos L. Zachos (Autor:in), 2017, Recent research on Nikopolis, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/385902
