Archaeologists Find Previously Unknown Ancient City in Greece

An international team of archaeologists from Sweden, Greece and the United Kingdom is exploring the ruins of a previously unknown ancient city at the village of Vlochos, municipality of Palamas, central Greece.

The city’s acropolis is barely visible during a cloudy day on the Thessalian plains. Image credit: Swedish Institute at Athens / Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa / Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.

“What used to be considered remains of some irrelevant settlement on a hill can now be upgraded to remains of a city of higher significance than previously thought,” said team member Robin Rönnlund, leader of the fieldwork and a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg.

The archaeological remains can be dated to several historical periods and are scattered on and around Strongilovoúni, an isolated hill towering 705 feet (215 m) above the vast plains of Western Thessaly.

“Most striking of the visible remains at the site are the well-preserved fortifications, at points still 8 feet (2.5 m) high, but the lower slopes below the hill show clear indications of being the location of an extensive urban settlement, now covered by silt and sediment from the nearby river Enipeas,” the archaeologists said.

Rönnlund and his colleagues completed the first field season during two weeks in September 2016.

“We found a town square and a street grid that indicate that we are dealing with quite a large city,” Rönnlund said.

“The area inside the city wall measures over 40 hectares.”

The team also found ancient pottery and coins that can help to date the city.

Fragment of red-figure pottery from the late 6th century BC, probably by Attic painter Paseas. Image credit: Swedish Institute at Athens / Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa / Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.

“Our oldest finds are from around 500 BC, but the city seems to have flourished mainly from the 4th to the 3rd century BC before it was abandoned for some reason, maybe in connection with the Roman conquest of the area,” Rönnlund said.

“The Strongilovoúni hill is hiding many secrets,” he added.

“Our ambition is to avoid excavation and instead use methods such as ground-penetrating radar, which will enable the team to leave the site in the same shape as it was in when they arrived.”

“The success of this approach is evident from the results of the first field season.”