ERETRIA EXCAVATION RECORDS

Ανασκαφικό Αρχείο Ερέτριας

COLLECTION OVERVIEW

Collection Number: GR ASCSA ExcRec 008
Creator(s): Charles Waldstein, Rufus B. Richardson
Date(s): 1891-1892, 1894-1895
Language(s): English
Summary: The excavations at Eretria began in 1891 under the direction of ASCSA Director Charles Waldstein and during the latter's absences under Rufus B. Richardson (Annual Professor in 1890-1891, later ASCSA Director 1893-1903). Three sites were explored, the acropolis, the theater, and the graves. During the first season (1891) Waldstein thought he had discovered the "tomb of Aristotle." In 1892 the eastern half of the theater's orchestra was cleared and its correct diameter was established. In 1894, Richardson uncovered the foundations of a temple, several water conduits, bases of dedicatory plaques, as well as part of the gymnasium. The collection contains excavation notebooks, drawings, and photos.
Quantity: 0.30 linear meters and about 1GB of digital content
Immediate Source of Acquisition: (ASCSA Excavation Records)
Information about Access: The collection is available for research
Cite as: American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Excavation Records, Eretria Excavations Archive

For more information, please contact the Archives at:
The American School of Classical Studies at Athens
54 Souidias Street, Athens 106 76, Greece
Phone: 213 000 2400 (ext. 306)
Contact via E-mail

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The excavations at Eretria began in 1891 under the direction of ASCSA Director Charles Waldstein and during the latter's absences under Rufus B. Richardson (Annual Professor in 1890-1891, later ASCSA Director 1893-1903). Three sites were explored, the acropolis, the theater, and the graves. During the first season (1891) Waldstein thought he had discovered the "tomb of Aristotle." In 1892 the eastern half of the theater's orchestra was cleared and its correct diameter was established. In 1894, Richardson uncovered the foundations of a temple, several water conduits, bases of dedicatory plaques, as well as part of the gymnasium. In 1895, "the work at Eretria was brought to a close. the theater and the buildings connected with it were entirely cleared. The work lacked much if judged by modern standards, because excavation technique has been so greatly improved. Still, it represented a competent and complete excavation. The School had reason to be well pleased with it. It had cost about two thousand dollars" (L. E. Lord, A History of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Cambridge, Mass. 1947, p. 87). Preliminary reports in ASCSA Papers VI, pp. 56-122, and in the Annual Reports 11 (1891-1892), 13 (1893-1894), and 14 (1894-1895). Other people who participated in the excavation: Carleton Brownson, Andrew Fossum, John Gilbert, and John Pickard.

The collection is organized into three series: I. Excavation Notebooks; II. Plans; and III. Photos. Part of the material has been digitized and is available online.

On the excavations at Eretria and the participation of John W. Gilbert, the first African-American student of the American School, see John W. Lee, "An African American Pioneer in Greece: John Wesley Gilbert and the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1890-1891," From the Archivist’s Notebook, 1 August 2017. Accessed 31 August 2017.