Top Archaeological Discoveries in Greece in 2024

This year has been fruitful in new archaeological discoveries from excavations and works conducted in Greece by the Ministry of Culture.

For another year, Greek archaeologists unearthed precious artifacts and construction pieces of ancient monuments and structures across Greece, adding to the country’s rich heritage.

In addition, restoration works and new finds in excavations that are in progress add more pieces to the endless puzzle of Greece’s rich ancient past.

More important finds from the Antikythera Wreck

According to archaeologists, the most important find of 2024 is a structural part of the hull of the ship where the famous Antikythera Mechanism was discovered. The ship’s hull  combines important shipbuilding features for which there were only hypotheses until now. Researchers revealed further treasures on the site where the priceless Antikythera Mechanism was found. As underwater research continues, we learn more and more about the cargo of the ship and the journey it was taking.

The examination of one of the richest shipwreck cargoes of antiquity opens new questions: was there only one ship involved in this ancient maritime tragedy? How exactly did the shipwreck occur? Did the human remains recovered in recent years belong to passengers or crew members?

The research results were rich: approximately 300 objects or groups of objects of great archaeological importance were found, including 21 marble fragments (18 from marble statues), numerous fragments and other structural elements of the ship’s hull, and over 200 pottery fragments. Several geoarchaeological samples were also extracted.

The section of the ship’s hull that was found included a small number of connected wooden planks forming the outer shell (pellet) with transverse reinforcements (nomes) fixed in their original position. They are connected in a way that indicates the “shell first” construction methodology with the original fasteners (copper nails) and the external protective lead coating, preserved in excellent condition.

Thanks to this find, the exact position on the seabed and the orientation of the ancient ship are now known. Through the ongoing comparative study of data, the question arises whether more than one ship sank in the same event at Antikythera. The new naval construction data and the extensive laboratory analyses are expected to shed additional light on details such as the types of wood chosen for the construction of various parts of the ship, its age and possibly its origin.

New findings in the Minoan Palace of Archanes

In October, archaeologists in Greece presented an important and rare discovery during the continuing excavation at the Minoan palace of Archanes on the island of Crete. Dr. Efi Sapouna-Sakellaraki and her group of archaeologists completed the image of the three-story building, which played, alongside Knossos, an important role in the development of Minoan Civilization.

The find is a Gate Sanctuary, a unique element which appears for the first time in a Minoan palace: Outside the main entrance four altars have been uncovered, as well as the two arms of the stone platform structure, which together indicate the religious significance of the space.

In this year’s excavation, in addition to a double-axe base that had been uncovered previously, another pyramid-shaped base was found on the platform, while the existence of a third is also possible, as it is preserved in fragments on the western arm.

The Archanes and other Minoan palaces continued to be used in the Mycenaean era with repairs by the Mycenaeans, as parts of the structure had been destroyed by fire.

The most interesting discovery is the building system of a Sacred Gate at the entrance to the palace with the altars and the arms of the stone structure, which framed a platform and two more altars – the large elongated and the stepped altar – that had been uncovered in earlier excavation periods.

Palace of Philip II opens to the public

The reopening of the monumental Palace of Philip II site to the public in Aigai (or Aegae) after a 16-year restoration was a great event. The place where the tomb of Philip II, king of Macedon and father of Alexander the Great, was discovered intact is one of the most important archaeological sites in the World. This is where Alexander the Great was proclaimed king in 336 BC.

The Palace of Aigai is also the largest building of classical Greece. It is three times the size of Parthenon.

Built in the mid-fourth century BC by Philip II, the “royal foundation” of Aigai, was designed to combine the Agora, the gathering place of the citizens of the Metropolis of Macedonia, with the royal presence and power. In the great peristyle of the palace, in the autumn of 336 BC, Alexander was proclaimed king of the Macedonians and the great journey that transformed the then world into an empire.

The palace of Aigai was a pioneering building for its time and became a model and archetype, defining, for many centuries, the image of public architecture, in the East and the West.

Now, visitors can take a guided tour of the museum of Aigai, taking a first step into the history of Macedonia and the world of Alexander the Great. Then they can see the royal tombs, an entire necropolis of 500 acres with 540 tombs. In addition, from now on they will be able to visit the palace of Philip to fully feel the atmosphere of Ancient Greece.

A unique find for Minoan civilization

In the Cretan town of Kastelli, works for a new airstrip for the town airport yielded the discovery of a circular monumental structure, unique for Minoan archaeology. Located on the highest point on a hill, it has a diameter of approximately 48 meters, covering an area of ​​approximately 1,800 square meters.

This monumental construction consists of eight consecutive stone rings with an average thickness of 1.40 meters and a maximum estimated surviving height of 1.7 meters, built at different elevation levels. The rings form a circular building in the center with a diameter of 15 meters, conjoining in a ramped structure, the interior of which is divided into quadrants.

Zone A is surrounded by a second main zone (zone B, maximum width 6.9 meters), in which radial walls intersect vertically the rings of the lower levels, forming smaller spaces. As the excavation progresses, an almost labyrinthine structure is revealed, as the spaces are connected with each other through narrow openings. Two possible main entrances to the central zones were revealed on the SW and NW sides.

The monument seems to have been used between 2,000 and 1,700 BC, i.e. it was probably founded shortly before or at the beginning of the Paleopalatial period, while the presence of Neopalatial ceramics in the destruction layer indicates that the use of the monument continued during the period of the New Palaces.

As at this stage, excavation research is still in progress. It is not possible at present to determine the original form or even the total height of the structure. The housing of the central zone was probably either in the shape of a truncated cone or domed. The two zones, A and B, formed by the upper rings seem to be the main focus of activities.

The quantity and type of the finds, as well as the presence of a large amount of animal bones, do not indicate – to date – continuous residential use, but probably periodic use in the form of ritual events, possibly involving the consumption of food, wine and perhaps offerings.

This is the first Minoan civilization monument of this type to be identified and excavated in Crete. Its size, architectural structure and meticulous construction require skilled labor, specialized experience and a strong central administration, which organized its construction. What is certain is that this is some type of community building – a landmark for the wider area of ​​Pediada. The fact that the construction is monumental and prominent probably indicates the importance of the location, but also the range of the population it would serve.

New Antikythera island findings

In June, archaeologists discovered a new ancient shipwreck only 200 meters away from the wreck where the priceless Antikythera mechanism was found last century.

According to the Greek Ministry of Culture, the wreck is dated to around 60 BC. A curious finding was among the objects in the buried in the mud wooden ship: two human teeth embedded in a compact mass with copper traces.

The underwater excavation bore more findings such as a greater-than-life-size marble head of a man with a beard, which archaeologists identified as the Farnese type of Heracles. The head could be a fit vide a fit with the headless statue no. 5742 at the National Archaeological Museum which was found by sponge divers in 1901.

All findings have been transferred to the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities for conservation.

Gymnasium of Ancient Olympia configured

After the completion of the excavation, Greek archaeologists have configured the Gymnasium of Ancient Olympia.

The gymnasium was built in the second century BC next to the bed of the Kladeos River and belongs to the same complex as the palaestra, which is located in its immediate vicinity. It is a large enclosed, long building, which had a spacious courtyard in its center with Doric arcades on its four sides.

After the completion of the works, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, stated: “The unveiling and promotion of the Gymnasium in Ancient Olympia, the area in which the athletes participating in the Olympic Games trained, continues uninterruptedly through the competent Ephorate of Antiquities of Elis.

“The first and second phases of the unveiling of the monument have already been completed, followed by the unveiling and promotion of the northern and last part of the Gymnasium, with the imminent inclusion of the project in the Western Greece Regional Operational Program.

“With the completion of the unveiling of the Ancient Gymnasium, along with the restoration and promotion projects of important monuments of the Roman period in Ancient Olympia, such as the Thermae, the so-called workshop of Phidias, the ‘House of Nero,’ the configuration of the archaeological site is completed, the visitors’ tour is expanded and their experience is enhanced.”

Ancient town of Rypes discovered

An ancient Greek town has been found near modern-day Aigio in the Peloponnese. Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient building and a good number of gold antiquities. They believe the building belong to the ancient town of Rypes, referenced by Greek geographer Pausanias.

Rypes was founded by Pelasgians, an ancient people mentioned in Greek historical and mythological traditions. They are considered one of the earliest inhabitants of the Aegean region and parts of the Greek mainland.

The Pelasgians appear in ancient texts and legends as pre-Greek settlers who occupied the land before the arrival of the Hellenic tribes. The seaside town was later inhabited by Ionians before it was destroyed and abandoned at around 30 BC by the Romans.

The rich findings include the floor of a public building which was built before 300 BC. A 16.80 meter-long base that supports a row of columns was also fully revealed together with pieces of Corinthian semicolumns.

Under the rubble archaeologists discovered three marble lion statues and a marble funerary stele of a youthful male figure. All the sculptures are carved in Pentelic marble. Inside the building, intact burials in cist tombs and a sarcophagus were found, yielding valuable offerings, including gold earrings, a ring, a gold Persian coin and others.

Neolithic site unveils life from 8,000 years ago

The third excavation period at the “Botanical Garden” site, on the western shores of Lake Plastiras, where a Neolithic settlement has been identified, unveiled fragments of life 8,000 years ago.

At an altitude of 800 meters and a depth of approximately one meter below the surface located in the Thessaly region of Central Greece, archaeologists identified the main use of the site. According to radiometric dating, the site goes back to the transition from the end of the Early/beginning of the Middle Neolithic (5999-5845 BC) period.

The findings confirm that the site had autonomy in raw materials, such as clay for the construction of vessels and flint of various varieties, while a multitude of grinding tools and many millstones made of sandstone were found in the natural bedrock of the site. The pottery is generally monochrome, made on site, since two complexes of ceramic kilns have been discovered so far, where mainly spherical vessels are embedded.

The presence of ceramic kilns at such an early period is a very recent piece of information from three other sites in Thessaly. The fact that they were found in the particular place demonstrates the autonomy of this mountainous site and possibly the more permanent nature of the settlement. “Home-made” objects for various uses have also been found, possibly an oven (fig. 3). A large area is covered by burnt fills limited by the presence of a brick-built wall, where hearths, postholes and other movable objects have been found.

Among the movable finds, some anthropomorphic figurines are distinguished, one of which has the rare surviving height of 10.5 cm, while the whole is estimated to have exceeded 16-17 cm in height. Also notable is an intact model of a kiln or house (fig. 5), also a very rare find. Some decorative elements (knobs) are found on the pottery that can possibly lead to closer relationships with specific same period sites in the Thessalian plain.

Estimates so far are that this is a rare high-altitude Neolithic settlement which differs from what we know so far from similar lowland settlements in the sense of originality and must be treated as a special case that opens up new fields in Neolithic period research.

6th Century Byzantine basilica uncovered

During sewage network works in Istiaia of Evia island in the summer, foundations of walls that formed an arch were unearthed near the city castle.

The excavation that followed brought to light a section of an early Byzantine basilica, the floor of which was paved with bricks. The walls are built with rough and semi-finished stones, tiles and clay, with a thin layer of plaster.

Two massive pillars start at the bottom of the arch of the apse, from the inner sides of which start two steps. Of great interest are two iron crosses, as well as a bronze crown of a candelabra found in the backfill.

The basilica dates back to the sixth century, a time when the diocese of Oreos, along with four other dioceses of Evia, was subject to the metropolis of Corinth. The basilica is a very important find that complements our knowledge to date of the fifth and sixth centuries in the area. Previously, only a few ecclesiastical sculptures had been identified, some of which are built into newer churches. ​

The basilica is integrated into an older, extensive public building, probably an even older basilica. Future excavations are required to clarify the relationship of the basilica to the wider building, as well as its surrounding area.

Unknown Asclepius sanctuary uncovered in Epidavros

A previously unknown Asclepius sanctuary has been discovered in the town of Epidavros. The location of the shrine, which is close to the small theater, has been mentioned by the ancient Greek traveler Pausanias.

The shrine facilities date back to the fourth century BC. However, the phase in which the buildings of the sanctuary were preserved is the one that took shape during the second century AD, connected, probably, with the visit of Hadrian to Epidavros in 124 AD.

The sanctuary consists of an outdoor enclosure of 100 square meters, a fountain with a 220 square meters tank and a stoa in front of them measuring 128 square meters.

As Pausanias testifies, the statues of Asclepius and Epione were erected in the outdoor enclosure. In the center of the enclosure, a well was preserved, with a well-built wall, from which an underground, pointed tunnel led the water to the fountain.

Water was a main component of all the Asclepia. That is why the fountain building had a monumental form and dimensions. The water intake area, in the first phase of the sanctuary’s operation, had an Ionic facade with three columns between pillars and inside it a fountain and basins with water spouts.

During the Roman period, access to the water of the cistern was incorporated into the portico which was built on the west side of the sanctuary, in front of the old water intake area and the precinct. The portico had a three-stepped platform and plastered columns. There are indications that it could have served for the burial process.

From the precinct, mainly, but also from the surrounding embankments, there are finds that confirm the identification of the site with the Sanctuary of Asclepius. The most characteristic are a shell with the name of the god engraved, clay discs with a bust of a deity for hanging, figurines, lamps and pieces of clay vessels. The bronze medical instruments found in earlier excavations in the orchestra of the adjacent theater most probably have come from the sanctuary.