On the history of Olympia during the transitional period of the Byzantine era

A reappraisal of the published ceramic data from the settlement

Abstract

In ancient Olympia numerous building remains belonging to an important early Byzantine settlement have been uncovered in excavations by the German Archaeological Institute. According to the generally accepted interpretation of the archaeological evidence, these buildings and the settlement itself were abandoned in the early 7^th century A.D., as a result of the Slavic penetration into the Peloponnese in the late 6th century. A reappraisal of some of the published pottery from the settlement, dating from the transitional period of the Byzantine era, and data derived from some as yet unpublished buckles shed new light on the probable date of the settlement’s abandonment. In particular, comparison of the documented pottery types with recently published material from other sites suggests the survival of a self-sufficient settlement at Olympia at least until the late 7^th century and presumably beyond as well as a coexistence of indigenous people with Slavic newcomers in the area.