A structure has come to light 2km above the modern village at a height of 1100 metres above sea level. Situated in a strategic position on a rocky spurr between two deep valleys, it overlooks the Agri Valley. The structure comprises seven rooms (rooms 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10) which would have been roofed, arranged in an “L” shape around a large open area (8 and 11). The construction of a modern aqueduct has damaged the building’s eastern edges. The courtyards 8 and 11 provided working areas for the rooms designated for domestic activities, in particular those carried out by women. This is demonstrated by finds of pithos fragments in rooms 3 and 4, loom weights in room 5 and a fragment of opaion (air vent) which attests the presence of a hearth in room 4. Other work rooms, 1 and 2, are situated south of the building. Room 1 (circa 80 square metres) contained two stoves in close proximity to each other together with numerous fragments of coarse ware pottery.
The strategic position, dominating the valley below and the presence of numerous iron nails for the construction of a wooden platform in its interior, suggest that this structure was a look-out post. The black glaze pottery gives a date of the 3rd century B.C. Also important for dating purposes is a silver denarius from Rome. The obverse shows a helmeted head of Rome, the reverse a chariot driven by a winged Nike with the word SAFRA and immediately beneath it ROMA and the date 150 B.C. in the exergue below. A cooking pot found in situ on top of a stove with a group of pottery vessels nearby suggests the sudden abandonment of the site. (Maria Luisa Nava)