BY THE ARCHAEOLOGIST EDITOR GROUP

One of the most important archaeological discoveries that astonished the whole of Europe and are the oldest Neolithic settlements still discovered in ancient continent are located just a breath away from the center of Volos, waiting to be more highlighted, evaluated and promoted.

These are the settlements of Dimini and Sesklos, which are not unknown but perhaps have not received the attention they deserve.

The more important of the two settlements is the Neolithic settlement of Dimini, located on a low hill and which archaeologists believe was first excavated at the beginning of the 5th century.

The architectural remains stretch across the hill and give the image of an organized Neolithic settlement with a unique architectural element: the six stone enclosures built in pairs around the settlement. The houses were located around the central courtyard or in the space created between the pairs. They are large and have outbuildings that leave a space between them for a communal courtyard.

During the decades of excavations, stone and bone tools, figurines and jewelry were found, as well as an abundance of pottery with inscriptions that represent the peak of Neolithic ceramic art.

The archaeologist Vasiliki Adrymi - Sismanis showed with her findings that Dimini was not abandoned at the end of the Late Neolithic period, but was continuously inhabited for a long period of time until the end of the Bronze Age, while in the middle of the 15th century it was abandoned.

Houses were built to the right and left of a wide road, and the entire settlement covers an area of more than 100 hectares.

The greatest discovery in Dimini were and are the two imposing Mycenaean vaulted tombs "Lamiospito" and "Toumba", undoubtedly attributed to the kings of the settlement and considered by archaeologists to be similar to those of Mycenae.

The two Mycenaean vaulted tombs are reference points for the Neolithic settlement of Dimini, and according to the reports of the Ministry of Culture, the smallest, but also the oldest, is the so-called "Lamiospito".

The access to the dome of the "Lamiospito" was through the entrance (height 3 m, length 2.20 m and width 1.90 m), covered with four large slabs that form the lintel above which was the relief triangle. The dome, with a diameter of 8.20 m and a height of 8.10 m, was built probably using wooden molds, of which no traces can be seen. It is built of small irregular limestones without binder, reinforced especially at the base. The floor was formed by leveling the limestone rock.

The upper part of the dome covered a large round slab, "the key". The tomb yielded few but important finds, mainly glass jewelry, ivory objects and bronze weapons, which were transferred and are now exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum.

Photo: The Archaeologist

The possible relation to Jason

In many cases it was also mentioned that the archaeological site of Dimini was identified with that of Iolkos and that the discovered palaces may belong to Jason and the undiscovered people from that period.

Today, under the direction of the Director of the Department of Antiquities of Magnesia, Athina Batsiou and her deputy, Elisavet Nikolaou, "the excavations continue and are constantly expanding".

As Ms. Nikolaou explained: "in particular, in the center of the settlement, a large complex was investigated, consisting of two large Mansions flanked by other smaller buildings and connected by a courtyard. Mansion A, as we call it, consists of two wings with rooms connected by a corridor. The north wing houses the main accommodation rooms, while the south wing houses the auxiliary and laboratory rooms. In one of the rooms a stone balance with three Linear B symbols engraved on it was discovered, while in the corridor stone dies and other tools for metallurgy were found. The walls of Mansion A are quite well preserved, have a sufficient height and are plastered with white plaster, as are the floors. To the north and south of the building there are two independent storage wings. Mansion A was destroyed and abandoned by its inhabitants at the end of the 13th century - at the beginning of the 12th century".

The archaeologist Elisavet Nikolaou, who spoke about the other findings of the excavations, emphasized that: "Building B also includes two wings with rooms separated by a corridor. Its walls were covered with a clay plaster, excellently preserved by the fire in some places, while the floor consisted of a thick layer of clay reinforced with lime and gravel. A large amount of pottery and charred botanical remains were found in the warehouses of the ancient complex, while a raised clay altar was discovered in the vestibule.".

The vaulted tomb "Toumba" excavated by V. Stais in 1892, was found buried and is not in good condition, its dome having collapsed to the level of the lintel. It is better built than the vaulted tomb "Lamiospito" and dates - according to its architectural form - a little later than the latter. From the few fragments of vessels found during the excavation of the path leading to the dome, the last use of the tomb can be dated to the late Bronze Age, i.e. the 13th century.

The tomb consists of the dome and a long road, the sides of which are supported by stone retaining walls, 4.00 m high at the intersection with the dome and preserved in excellent condition. At the western end of the road, the wall of the last barrier of the tomb is preserved. Access to the tomb vault was through an opening covered by three large carved portal stones, 0.45 m thick. The inner slab of the transept is carved to follow the shape of the dome.

The dome is made of small limestones without binders. The stones at the base of the vault are large hewn cobblestones and rest on the limestone rock that was leveled to form the floor of the vaulted tomb, where a built urn was discovered that housed the burial bed.

Although the tomb was looted, some finds, especially small gold and glass jewelry, escaped the attention of the raiders, and these gifts are on display in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Today, a bold financial support from the State is needed to continue the excavations in the Neolithic settlement of Dimini and, above all, to systematically highlight, promote and publicize the extremely important archaeological site, as requested by the Municipality of Volos, since, among other things, it is a point of reference and of great interest for thousands of tourists arriving from the cruise ships in the port of Volos.

Sesklo is a significant Neolithic settlement located in the region of Thessaly, central Greece. It dates back to around 7000 BCE and is considered one of the earliest and most important prehistoric settlements in Europe. The site provides essential information about the Neolithic period in Greece, and it played a crucial role in the development of the Neolithic culture in southeastern Europe.

The Sesklo culture developed in different phases during the Neolithic period, from the Early Neolithic (7000-6500 BCE) to the Final Neolithic (4500-3300 BCE).

The settlement at Sesklo was characterized by its organized layout, which featured rectangular houses built with wood and mud-bricks. The walls were often coated with a mixture of clay and straw to improve insulation. Roofs were typically made of thatch or wood.

The people of Sesklo were primarily engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. They cultivated cereals like wheat and barley, legumes, and flax for linen. They also raised animals, such as goats, sheep, pigs, and cattle, for meat, milk, and wool.

Sesklo is well-known for its distinctive pottery style, characterized by monochrome painted decorations in red or dark brown on a light background. The pottery featured geometric patterns, including zigzags, spirals, and meanders. This style was widely distributed across the region and influenced pottery production in other Neolithic settlements.

Sesklo is also known for its anthropomorphic clay figurines, which were primarily female and possibly represented fertility goddesses. These figurines were either hand-modeled or made using simple molds, and their features were typically emphasized, such as breasts, hips, and buttocks.

Sesklo was part of a network of Neolithic settlements that traded and interacted with each other, exchanging raw materials, goods, and ideas. This interaction is evidenced by the presence of obsidian, a volcanic glass used for making tools, sourced from the island of Melos, which is approximately 150 km away.

The Sesklo culture came to an end around 3300 BCE, possibly due to a combination of factors, such as climatic changes, depletion of natural resources, and the invasion of new populations.

Today, Sesklo is an important archaeological site that offers valuable insights into the Neolithic way of life in Greece and Europe as a whole. Excavations have revealed a wealth of artifacts and information, helping researchers to understand the social, economic, and cultural aspects of this early human settlement.