The stone tools relating to industrial production in Aigai (Aiolis)

This study addresses the industrial production implements unearthed in the excavation campaigns and field surveys carried out in the ancient city of Aigai (Aiolis) since 2004. The subject is limited to stone tools and examines finds from the hilltop which houses the acropolis of the city, the lower city on the slopes and the plains on the north. The finds, considered to be the archaeological evidence of the industrial production in antiquity, were documented with photographs, drawings and localization data. Consistent reference points were attempted to be established through analogical comparisons. Furthermore, the diachronic development process within the find groups was aimed to be followed on the basis of the evidence obtained in the excavations in Aigai. The results of the study determined that the examined tools were used in the ancient olive oil, wine and flour production. Equipment regarding the various phases of each industrial production line was identified. Crushing, pressing and decantation implements related to olive oil production were defined. These include production implements or installations such as the trapetum, mola olearia, simple lever press, capstan lever press and screw-lever press. During the evaluation, a possible relation of the archaeological evidence of press installations with wine production was taken into consideration. The study evaluates multiple stone tools related to flour production, representing different periods and technologies, including grindstones, Olynthus mills, rotary hand mills and Delian mills (segmented mills). Another equipment group consists of different mortar types described as pila and mortarium. The last group consists of basins on high stands. These tools in the last two groups have various range of use. For that reason, it is not possible to define the aforesaid tools of only one function.