BU archaeologists help uncover more about ancient Greek city

Archaeologists from Bournemouth University (BU) are part of a team that have helped uncover more about an ancient city in Greece.

Researchers from Bournemouth University (BU) and the University of Gothenberg in Sweden have been exploring ruins near the modern village of Vlochos, situated around 300km north of Athens, as part of The Vlochós Archaeological Project (VLAP), a collaboration between the Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa and the Swedish Institute at Athens.

The ruins have not previously been systematically explored in great detail, and the team have used non-invasive archaeological techniques – such as geophysical surveying and drone photography - to uncover more about the size and scale of the ancient city, which dates to approximately 2,500 years ago.

Lecturer in Archaeology at BU Dr Derek Pitman is one of those who have been out in Greece exploring and analysing the site.

He said: “Bournemouth have played an important role in the project. We brought geophysical and survey equipment including our photography drone.

“It allowed us to view the site like never before, producing 3D maps of the fortifications and a detailed plan of the underground features.

“The exceptional imagery has helped understand the extent of the city including the identification of possible private and public areas as well as industrial quarters.

“Coupled with the expertise from Sweden and Greece the results have given us significant insight into the layout of Vlochos and a window into the lives of those that lived there.”

Alongside the remains of towers, walls and city gates, the team uncovered ancient coins and pottery dating to 250 BC during the first round of fieldwork in September, which are now being studied in Karditsa.

They plan to return in August 2017 for further investigations of the site, based on and immediately below a hill called Strongilovoúni.

To find out more about the project visit: www.vlap.se ​