The Helike Project

Location: Aigion, Achaia, GR

Season: August 1, 2022 to September 2, 2022

Application Deadline: July 5, 2022

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: http://www.helikeproject.gr

Program Type:
Volunteer

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
The Helike Society and the University of Patras

Project Director:
Dr. Dora Katsonopoulou

Project Description:

Ancient Helike is on the southwest shore of the Gulf of Corinth near Aigion, about 170 km west of Athens. In searching for the famous Classical city of Helike, destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami in 373 B.C., we discovered (a) destruction layers and remains of Classical buildings preserving evidence of earthquake destruction accompanied by tsunami buried under lagoonal sediments (b) a well preserved Early Bronze Age proto-urban town with large rectilinear buildings including a corridor house, flanking cobbled streets and with intact contents (c) remains of an extensive late Classical-early Hellenistic town including a large complex building of Dye-works with the total of its relevant installations for preparing, dyeing and drying in excellent state of preservation (d) a long section of the major Roman road between Corinth and Patras crossing the Helike plain (e) occupation layers rich in pottery and walls of the Mycenaean and Geometric periods (f) late Classical-Hellenistic,Roman and late Byzantine cemeteries (g) remains of an extensive Roman town, and (h) more recently discovered architectural remains of Geometric buildings containing abundant pottery and other finds. The Helike Project welcomes volunteers to participate in the study and conservation work to be carried out in the field and in the Project’s laboratory.

Period(s) of Occupation: Early Bronze Age, Mycenaean, Geometric/Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Late Byzantine

Notes:
A unique Early Bronze Age proto-urban town preserved with its contents intact, a rare Early Hellenistic Dye-works site preserving washing/fulling and dyeing establishments (tanks, vats, basins) intact, impressive architectural Geometric remains of a chieftain's house and abundant pottery.

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 2 weeks

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: No

Room and Board Arrangements:
Volunteers will stay at the Hotel Themisto in the village of Nikolaiika, about 1-2 km from the excavation sites. Meals included. Cost: Contact Mrs. Maria Karvela or Eleni Georgiou at eliki@otenet.gr