Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient city in Palaiokastro, Serres, Greece.
The ancient city appears to have existed since the end of the 6th century BC until the 6th century AD. The archaeologists who have been conducting research in the area for the second year are part of a team led by the Serres Antiquities Ephorate in collaboration with the French School of Athens.
Archaeologists discovered impressive monuments and gathered data that add to what is already known about the history of this ancient Greek city.
Archaeologists hope to correctly identify the name of the ancient city.
“Paleokastro’s location is identified with one of the ancient cities of the lower valley of Struma known from ancient historical sources”, the Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Serres, Dimitria Malamidou, told AMNA. “We hope that with the new research there will be findings (inscriptions, coins) that will allow the safe identification of the city’s name. However, it is already obvious that its strategic position between the fertile valley of the river Struma and the slopes of the ore-rich mountains of Kerdyllion and Vertiskos, contributed to its long and successful history. It is no coincidence that among the oldest finds, an inscription stands out that mentions the word ‘adamaϛ’, a term that refers to gold and probably to its exploitation” she also added.
Efthymios Rizos, an archaeologist of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Serres and member of the excavation team of the project in Terpni, shares Malamidou’s views. He pointed that they already know that various cities had flourished in that area in antiquity but most of these cities cannot be identified with certainty. He also mentioned that the excavations and research in Terpni have offered clear evidence about the ancient city’s lifespan. An inscription confirms that in Roman imperial times this settlement had political institutions, he added.
What the findings reveal about the ancient city in Serres, Greece
The findings have revealed that the area was initially under the control of the Thracian tribe of the Bisaltians. However, it was later settled by Greeks from the cities of the South and from the Macedonian kingdom. The findings of the excavations prove the presence of Greek pottery as early as the 6th century BC. Excavations have also uncovered Hellenistic-era building phases, part of the fortification, a Roman basilica with a complex of thermal baths, a workshop with wine presses (cistern) of Roman times, and two Christian churches of the three-aisled basilica type.
Several tombs from various eras have been excavated on its territory, as well as a Macedonian type tomb belonging to the brothers Ipponakta and Dioscorides. The latter were sons of Apollodorus, who was, according to historical sources, a comrade of Alexander the Great, “says the Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Serres.
When they started to research the ancient city
The first time archaeologists started to conduct research in the area was in 1965. According to Malamidou, it was Eugenia Giouri who discovered a “Macedonian-type” tomb at a distance of about 2 km east of Paleokastro. The tomb was dated in accordance with a coin around 328 BC. According to the inscriptions engraved inside the tomb, it belonged to the brothers Ipponakta and Dioskourides who were the sons of Apollodorus, the partner of Alexander the Great, who had settled in Amphipolis.
In 1981, extensive leveling work caused damage to the top of the hill Paleokastro, revealing parts of ancient buildings, architectural parts, reliefs, and an inscription of the 3rd century AD. The first exploratory excavations carried out in 1985 revealed a Roman building and lower walls of the Hellenistic period. Then, in 1993, archaeologist Marianna Karamberi lead the first systematic excavation of the site, adds Malamidou.
The aim of the archaeologists
The archaeological team says that their goal is to return a very important site to the public. They hope that the ancient city in Greece will be popular with visitors. Furthermore, the hope that it will constitute a source of cultural and economic upgrading for the area.
At the same time, the Municipality of Visaltia, in close cooperation with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Serres, managed in 2019, to complete the cleaning the site which was unused for years. The municipality continues to support the research team in every way.
“Our common thread is the promotion of the specific historical site, always in the light of the protection of antiquities and the natural environment, with the main goal to ensure visitor traffic to the site”, concludes the Head of the Serres Antiquities Ephorate.