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.
Excavations on the acropolis and along the seashore brought to light extremely rich and diversified material dating, at the earliest, to the second half of the 7th century B.C., that…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
The pottery pertaining to the period 650-600 B.C. can be divided in four distinct groups, of which two are from local or regional styles. The first group consists of vases…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
As the regional and local pottery, the greek pottery found in 7th century B.C. levels in Argilos can be separated into two groups : vases originating from Eastern Greek cities…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
The city of Argilos took great benefit from an important economic growth during the 6th and 5th centuries B.C. The citizens of Argilos exploited a region abundant in natural resources.…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
The state of preservation of the architectural remains uncovered in the southeastern area of the excavation gives us the opportunity to study more closely the construction and transformation of the…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
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…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
Plan of the southeast sector showing building "B" At the right of house « A », a narrow cobbled street leads to a terrace on which Building B was constructed.…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
The city of Argilos enjoyed great prosperity until the foundation of Amphipolis in 437 B.C., but saw a net decline in the city's architecture and various economical activities thereafter. The…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
Plan du secteur sud-est et Localisation du bâtiment "E"c Along the main road leading to the acropolis, excavations brought to light a very large building, measuring about 10 square meters.…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
La qualité de la céramique des Vème et IVème siècles n'égale pas celle des périodes précédentes. On trouve encore quelques beaux vases attiques à figures rouges, mais les importations de…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
Plan of the acropolis sector The army of Philip II destroyed Argilos in 357 B.C. and gave its land to the Macedonian king. The city was abandoned and its buildings…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
Plan of the acropolis sector showing the Hellenistic mansion Having conquered the region around Argilos, the Macedonian king Philip II divided the land between his « hetairoi», a group of…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
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…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
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…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020
Very few inscriptions have been found in Argilos and they consist mainly of graffiti inscribed on vases or sherds, amphoras, roof tiles, coins. However, one inscription is recorded on a…
chatbleuFebruary 7, 2020