Area A

Above: An Autocad Drawing of Area A.

Area A is primarily associated with the Archaic period (Roughly 700 - 480 BC). The structures uncovered in area A appear to be connected with civic use in the Archaic period and later. Currently there are five trenches in area A, A1-A5.

Trenches A1 and A2 served primarily as test trenches, dug beneath the westermost of the "North Gate buildings." To quote the 1992 Hesperia report:

In trench A1 a pavement, a wall, a probable drain and part of a mudbrick construction came to light. In the nearby trench A2 the corner of a lightly built structure was excavated. Its walls are made of unworked stones, set on edge to form the inner face. A rectangular slab placed on end was found within the structure and probably dates to the period of its use. The character of these remains is not yet clear. The pottery associated with them, while not plentiful, appears to date to the 6th century B.C.
Above: Balloon photo of trenches A1 and A2

Trenches A3 and A5 contain several features of interest. In A5 at least ten courses of a mudbrick wall remain preserved. A5 also contains three slabs of stone set on edge, to form two recepticles of an undetermined function (Production of mud bricks is a suggestion).
Above:Trench A5 from the north. The three stone slabs are visible on the left side.

	In addition, a group of amphorae were found broken in the room there, one of which corresponds to a Corinthian type associated with the destruction debris from the Persian destruction of Athens in 480 BCE. This suggests the possibility that Halai may have been destroyed by the same Persian Expedition. A3 contains four stone circles of possible ritual use, perhaps connected with the temple area in Area F.		Left: A close up of structure "b", found covered in "turkey wing" shells
Above: Excavation in trench A3, stone circles are visible
	Right: The stone structures in trench A3. The bottom left circle apparantly possesses a channel, possibly for channeling runoff from ritual libations.

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Last modified 11.18.97