Neo-Rysio Kardia excavation and field school

The site “Trapeza of Neo Rysio-Kardia” is located on a mound with flattened surface (trapeza) in the northern end of ancient Kroussis and to the south of the Anthemous valley, close to the modern-day villages of Neo Rysio and Kardia, and near the airport of Thessaloniki. There, the remains of an ancient settlement that pre-existed the founding of Thessaloniki (316/5 BC) were discovered. This settlement was founded on a prominent location that oversees almost the whole valley of Anthemous, the Thermaic Gulf, as well as Mt. Kissos (modern Chortiatis).

During the first season (2016), research was concentrated on surveying the site and cleaning the surrounding wall of its upper terrace. During the next three seasons (2017-2019), the research team dug trial trenches that brought to light parts of buildings and streets. These finds offer valuable information regarding the plan of the settlement, which was mainly inhabited throughout the Early Iron Age and the Archaic periods (11th/10th-6th centuries BC).

The site “Trapeza of Neo Rysio-Kardia” belongs to a dense group of settlements that existed along the Thermaic Gulf before the conquest of this region by the Macedonians in the 6th century BC. In the dig site several rectangular and trapezoid buildings with several rooms came to light, built with walls whose lower parts were made of stone and the upper parts were made of clay mudbrick. Probably the roofs consisted of wooden planks and reeds. Inside the rooms pits were unearthed, as well as stone and clay constructions used for everyday activities. Between the buildings, the vertical and horizontal roads that were unearthed give an indicative image of the settlement’s urban planning even from the Early Iron Age.

Excavation over the past years brought to light highly interesting archaeological finds (pottery, stone and metal tools, spindle whorls and loom weights, bones and sea-shells). Each year, students also have the opportunity to practice at the cleaning, storing, inventorying and photographing of the excavated material. In the conservation laboratory of the International Hellenic University fragmented vases are mended, and archaeological material is conserved by an experienced team of conservators and by our students.

Fieldwork

The excavation takes place at the Trapeza of Neo Rysio-Kardia, a flat-top settlement dating to the Iron Age, near the university campus. Under the guidance of experienced academic staff, participants will:

• Excavate architectural remains and artefacts from ancient contexts
• Record each find accurately through notes, drawings, measurements, and photography
• Keep an excavation diary and collect samples for laboratory analysis

Students will also experience the interdisciplinary nature of archaeology through visits and demonstrations by specialists such as geoarchaeologists, archaeobotanists, and topographers, gaining a panoramic understanding of the ancient landscape.

Laboratory

After excavation, artefacts undergo a series of steps to transform them into research-ready heritage materials. Students will:

• Wash, sort, mend, and record artefacts such as pottery, bones, and small finds
• Observe conservation specialists restoring and stabilising fragile remains
• Apply soil flotation techniques to recover tiny ecofacts, including charred seeds and micro-artefacts

This stage builds practical expertise in artefact management, ensuring that what is uncovered in the field is preserved, documented, and ready for future study.

Together, the field and laboratory experiences provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the excavation process, from uncovering the past to preparing artefacts for research and preservation, equipping them with the skills to work with archaeological sites and materials.

• Excursions to archaeology site Pella (Birth Place of Alexander the Great)
• Excursions to archaeology sites and museums at Vergina, Dion, Stagira and Akanthos, Amphipolis and Philippi.