Previous excavations conducted in the sanctuary of Demeter, in the area of the eastern temenos, had brought to light a late Archaic occupation level. Subsequently, several terracotta votives of the so-called ‘armed goddess’ type were found within the hollows in the foundations of its E-W orientated wall. These votives are well attested in the Achaean colonies and this find has enabled the foundation date for this structure to be fixed within the period when Siris was conquered by Achaean colonists.

This year work on the evidence for the Siritan phase of the sanctuary continues to be one of the focal points of excavations by the University of Innsbruck. To this end trench 1/98, containing various Archaic layers with architectural terracottas of varying dates, was re-opened. At a depth of 4m, a layer came to light that was rich in architectural terracotta fragments (geison, sima, tiles and imbrices) which date to the first half of the 6th century B.C. thus placing these finds within the phase of the Achean conquest.