The canal of Xerxes: investigations in 1993–1994

Abstract

The paper describes the continuation in 1993–4 of the investigation into the Canal of Xerxes in the Chalkidiki, N. Greece. Effort was concentrated in the central sector of the isthmus, where geophysical survey using seismic methods revealed a channel-like structure some 14–15 m below the present ground level. Encouraging support for the hypothesis that this structure is a canal came from the analysis of cores from two boreholes in the central sector: there was a marked discontinuity in the sediments at a depth of c.14.6 m. Radiocarbon dates of some sediments from these boreholes provided useful ancillary information.

Exploration of the Canal of Xerxes, Northern Greece: the role of geophysical and other techniques

“…Responding to the many issues arising from previous work at this enigmatic structure, one of us, BSJI, initiated and has directed a new programme of exploration at the canal, consisting to date of a number of brief seasons between 1991 and 1996 of geophysical and topographic surveys and borehole drilling. An account of the state of knowledge about the canal prior to the present project is given by Isserlin (1991), and Isserlin et al (1994and Isserlin et al ( , 1996 present the results, for an archaeological readership, of the topographic and geophysical surveys up to and including 1994; finally, the findings from the seismic survey along one profile in the central sector have been published by Karastathis and Papamarinopoulos (1997). Another of us, JU, prepared a preliminary report on the second series of VK's seismic measurements, the results of which are reported fully here.…”