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Excavations at Euesperides (Benghazi), 1995

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2015

J. A. Lloyd ,
A. Buzaian  and
J. J. Coulton
J. A. Lloyd
Affiliation:
Oxford University
A. Buzaian
Affiliation:
Gar Younis University, Benghazi
J. J. Coulton
Affiliation:
Oxford University
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Extract

In April 1995 a three week season of excavation was conducted at the ancient city of Euesperides by the Society for Libyan Studies and the Department of Archaeology, Gar Younis University, Benghazi, in collaboration with the Libyan Department of Antiquities. This note provides a brief account of the main findings.

The background to the new work at the site is as follows: in the early 1990s unauthorised excavations for a shopping precinct took place immediately to the north of the known archaeological zone of Sidi Abeid, bringing to light huge quantities of pottery and other artefacts of the Greek period. Eye-witnesses report also the removal of large quantities of ancient building stone during these operations. Following initiatives by the Department of Antiquities and Gar Younis University a legal judgement was obtained suspending further construction (the court case is continuing) and archaeological investigations were set in train.

The condition of the site was brought to the attention of Drs Susan Walker and Joyce Reynolds during their visit to Benghazi in September 1993. A year later, following further visits by the first-named author of this note (in December 1993) and by the Libya Society's Chairwoman, Dr Walker, and Head of Mission, Professor Graeme Barker (in Spring 1994), a joint programme of research was agreed and a two-year contract with the Department of Antiquities was signed in Tripoli. The Society was able to divert resources immediately to the site, and the results of the ensuing investigation, which benefited greatly from the participation of the Department of Archaeology, are reported elsewhere in this volume. The field directors, Drs Peter Hayes and David Mattingly, very kindly made available the full records of this work in advance of the excavations.

Information

Type
Archaeological Reports
Information
Libyan Studies , Volume 26 , 1995 , pp. 97 - 100
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Libyan Studies 1995

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References

Notes

1. For summary accounts of the site, which dates from the late sixth to the mid third century BC, and of previous fieldwork there, see Vickers, M., Gill, D. and Economou, M., ‘Euesperides: the Rescue of an Excavation’, Libyan Studies 25 (1994), 125–45CrossRefGoogle Scholar, and P. Hayes and D. Mattingly, this volume, 83-96.

A brief report (of which this is an expanded and updated version) was lodged with the Department of Antiquities, Benghazi at the close of the 1995 season. It is anticipated that the final publication of the excavations will be offered to Libya Antiqua, with interim reports appearing in Libyan Studies.

2. The regular site team consisted of Yussef Ben Nasser (Department of Antiquities), Ahmed Buzaian, James Coulton, Saleh el-Hassi, John Lloyd, Ahmed Mehlud, Hassan Mekaeel, Lisa Nevett, Simon Pressey and Andrew Wilson, together with up to 35 second and third year students from the Department of Archaeology. Habib el-Amin and David Hopkins supervised for brief periods, and many others helped from time to time.

3. Following the deconsecration of the Sidi Abeid cemtery in the 1950s the visible tombs were systematically exhumed and the bones reburied; it is clear, however, that many simpler graves, lacking markers and covered by sand and vegetation, escaped attention.

4. Antiquities Department Trench 6 (later renumbered 6000), discussed by Hayes and Mattingly on p. 90 of this volume.

5. The survey was based on a Leica Electronic Theodolite loaned by the Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford.

6. The 1994 pottery was studied by Paul Roberts. The fine pottery from 1995 was studied by Faraj el-Rashedy and Paul Roberts and the coarse pottery from 1995 by Paul Roberts with assistance from Habib el-Amin. The 1994 and 1995 small finds were catalogued by Lisa Nevett and Dorothy Thorn. Finds drawing was undertaken by David Hopkins and James Thorn, and David Hopkins also photographed the principal pieces.

7. Saleh el-Haasi supervised the wet sieving and Ruth Pelling studied the carbonised material. We are most grateful to Mr Ibrahim Tuwahny, Controller of Antiquities for Benghazi, for giving permission for these samples to be taken to the U.K.