The 2016–2018 Greek-Swedish archaeological project at Thessalian Vlochos, Greece

Abstract

The Vlochos Archaeological Project (2016–2018) was a Greek-Swedish archaeological investigation of the remains of the ancient urban site at Vlochos in western Thessaly, Greece. Employing a wide array of non-invasive methods, the project succeeded in completely mapping the visible remains, which had previously not been systematically investigated. The extensive remains of multi-period urban fortifications, a Classical-Hellenistic city, a Roman town, and a Late Antique fortress were identified, evidence of the long history of habitation on this site. Since comparatively little fieldwork has been conducted in the region, the results significantly increase our knowledge of the history and archaeology of Thessaly.

‘Princely seats’ and Thessalian hillforts: pre-urban Greece and the diffusion of urbanism in Early Iron Age Europe

“…Curve equidistance 10m (plan sketches by author after plans and descriptions in: Béquignon (1932: 122–91); Decourt (1990: 191–6); Karachalios et al (2018: fig. 15); Vaïopoulou et al (2020: fig. 18); Dafi & Rönnlund (in press); and Greek army maps and aerial photographs).

Figure 3.The ridge of Plateia Rachi at Zarkos from north-west (©Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Hellenic Organization for the Development of Cultural Resources; panoramic photograph by author).

Figure 4.Fortification wall on the ridge of Plateia Rachi (©Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Hellenic Organization for the Development of Cultural Resources; photograph by author).

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“…Curve equidistance 10m (plan sketches by author after plans and descriptions in: Béquignon (1932: 122–91); Decourt (1990: 191–6); Karachalios et al (2018: fig. 15); Vaïopoulou et al (2020: fig. 18); Dafi & Rönnlund (in press); and Greek army maps and aerial photographs).…”

“…As at Plateia Rachi, it is believed that wall was topped by a now lost mudbrick superstructure (Vaïopoulou et al . 2020: 32). Two monumental terraced roads, up to 5m in width, lead up the lower slopes to two large gates through the hilltop fortifications; these suggest the site was used for the evacuation of a large population of people and, probably, also of livestock (Vaïopoulou et al .…”

“…The earliest traces of activity at the site, however, relate to a 11ha fortification on the hilltop enclosed by a substantial 1.3km-long wall (Vaïopoulou et al . 2020: 28–32). Surface survey of the hilltop has recovered virtually no ceramic material.…”

Some preliminary notes on the limited 2020 campaign of the Palamas Archaeological Project (PAP)

“…Identified in the previous study as a potential public or monumental complex,Vaïopoulou et al 2020, 61. 9 Vaïopoulou et al 2020 …”