Prinias (Patela). Evidence of Protoarchaic Cult activities in the Hellenistic Fortress Area

New excavations (2003 and 2005) in the fortress, which in post-Archaic times garrisoned the Patela of Prinias, had two goals: to date the fortress itself and to clarify the urbanistic role of that area inside the Early Iron Age settlement. Since the foundation trenches and the abandonment layers of the fortress were intercepted, the first aim was fully achieved: it was built between the late 3rd and the first half of the 2nd centuries BC and deserted before the end of the same century. The second aim was more difficult to achieve, because only very poor earlier masonry remains were brought to light and Early Iron Age finds, in very fragmentary state, were unearthed as residual only in Hellenistic or surface layers. However, the study undertaken in the last few years on such materials, considered together with those found in the early 20th century excavations, allows us to assume a not purely residential use of the area.