After finding Felix’s WOGE109 I’m happy to publish the next challenge. Find the location of the picture on GoogleEarth and identify the location and the main period of ocupation. The first one to fulfill these requirements has to host the next challenge.
As this is my first go at this, I wasn’t quite sure how hard to make it – my initial choice was probably so difficult that nobody would get it! So instead I’ve chose a site which I think might be a little easier, and it’s one that combines geology and archaeology.
The site is the diagonal, ‘slipper’-shaped headland in the middle of the image.
The scale bar in the bottom left of the image is 200 metres across.
- WOGE 110
Q: What is When on Google Earth?
A: It’s a game for archaeologists, or anybody else willing to have a go!
Q: How do you play it?
A: Simple, you try to identify the site in the picture.
Q: Who wins?
A: The first person to correctly identify the site, including its major period of occupation, wins the game.
Q: What does the winner get?
A: The winner gets bragging rights and the chance to host the next When on Google Earth on his/her own blog!
=========Update===========
Gillian has successfully solved the challenge – it’s the ancient marble quarries at Alyki on Thassos – a lovely site, so here’s a quick picture of the worked-out quarries:
Marble quarry at Aliki
The name of the place is Alyki, on the south of Paros, a Greek island. 40°36’21.00″N 24°44’29.38″E . The whole island has been a source of fine white marble used for buildings and carvings slince the Ancient Greek times.
By: Gillian (Reynardo) on 2 January, 2011
at 3:29 am
Sorry – and the ancient temples there from the 7th Century BC – http://www.go-thassos.gr/about-thassos/touring-thassos/alyki.html
At Alyki, on the East side of the island located about 35 kilometres from Thassos Town and 47 kilometres from Skala Prinos, there is a small rocky islet that was once called the Holy Rock. The course of history here has not been interrupted since the 7th century BC.
Between the quarry that is on the cape and the rock’s two inlets, there is a naturally occurring stretch of high ground that was used for worship from 7th century BC. A sanctuary was built on it. It was in constant use up until the Christian era. In 49 AD, during the early years of the Byzantine Empire, Christianity came to Thassos when Apostle Paul traveled from Troas in Asia Minor to Kavala. Byzantines didn’t take hold of Thassos until 314 AD under the rule of Emperor Licinius. A firm hold was established in 323 AD when Constantine the Great came to the throne. Early Christians built two basilicas using materials from the sanctuary, which the ancient holy buildings by then had fallen into disuse.
On the rock’s eastern shore stood a sanctuary dedicated to the gods, possibly the Dioscuri, who protected ships and sailors on their voyages. The ruins of the sanctuary can be seen. The buildings date back to the 5th and 6th centuries BC.
At the edge of the peninsula, the ancient quarries used extensively in the time of the Roman Empire can still be found. It is there that marble was cut and loaded on ships from 6th century BC to the 6th century AD. Today stone blocks can still be seen on the sea floor. The two bays at Alyki are known to have been harbors from which pure white, high quality Thassian marble was exported in ancient times.
By: Gillian (Reynardo) on 2 January, 2011
at 3:34 am
And the temples – 7th C BC – http://www.go-thassos.gr/about-thassos/touring-thassos/alyki.html
By: Gillian (Reynardo) on 2 January, 2011
at 3:35 am
Well done! And sorry about the posts, yes they did all get caught up in my spam filter (dunno why, it’s usually quite good). It is of course Alyki on Thassos – a lovely place to visit so I’ve attached a pic to my original post.
It’s over to you now!
By: fattaff on 2 January, 2011
at 11:57 am
Ick – Chris, feel free to kill at least two of those
The next one, WOGE #111, is up on my own journal at http://reynardo.livejournal.com/422906.html
By: Gillian (Reynardo) on 2 January, 2011
at 1:12 pm