Discoveries

The main objective of our research programm is to better understand the establishment and organization of the greek colonies on the northwestern coast of the Aegean sea by systematic excavation of Argilos. Some very important aspects of greek colonization in the 7th century B.C. in this region have yet to be studied. The exceptional quality of the remains brought to light at Argilos up to now give us the opportunity to study fundamental aspects linked to the cultural relations between Greeks and Thracians and the development of colonial urbanism. How does a city, founded on a territory which was probably not hostile but surely very different from the homeland, take birth ? What is the rythm of its development, what did condition it? What is the nature and how does the contacts and exchanges with the indigenous populations organize themselves ?

In order to answer these questions and others, the scholars working at Argilos have concentrated their efforts on three areas of the hill: along the sea coast, where excavations brought to light the earliest occupation levels of the town; on the southeast slope, where archaeologists excavated important public and domestic dwellings which give precious information about the architectural and urbanistic development of the city; and on the acropolis, where the buildings unearthed cover all the periods of the city’s existence, and notably those of the hellenistic period, built after the destruction caused by Philip II in 357 B.C.

Discoveries

6th Century B.C. Pottery Styles

During the 6th century B.C., Argilos knew a great variety of pottery styles. Thracian pottery dissapeared after 550, which may indicate that the Thracian inhabitants adopted the greek way of…
chatbleu
February 7, 2020
Discoveries

The Necropolis of Argilos

The necropolis of Argilos is situated to the East of the city. There are various types of tombs. Most are cist-graves, that is, trenches, of which the sides are clad…
chatbleu
February 7, 2020
Discoveries

The Coinage of Argilos

Argilos minted its first coins during the last quarter of the 6th century B.C. The date is important since the minting implies that Argilos was a politically and economically independent…
chatbleu
February 7, 2020