In a strategic location on the island of Cephalonia, in the “Kotroni” Lakithra region, significant archaeological findings have emerged. Under the direction of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cephalonia and Ithaca, archaeological investigations have focused on this area due to its potential to reveal significant remains from the Late Bronze Age.
The excavation began following an inspection in 2023, after receiving preliminary information indicating the presence of unusual structures under the dense and shrubby vegetation of the area. Located at an elevated point, “Kotroni” offers a panoramic view over the entire region of Leivatho, part of Kranea, and towards the airport and Zakynthos, suggesting its strategic and ceremonial importance in ancient times.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this research is the appearance of two deep wells, reaching up to five meters in depth, surrounded by architecturally arranged stone rings. These rings not only support the outer slopes but also contribute to a sense of monumentality, suggesting that the structures may have had a ceremonial or ritual purpose.
Inside the wells, tool marks used for extracting limestone have been preserved in a surprising state. Grooves up to 20 cm deep have been found, possibly used for placing wooden beams that supported a platform or system for removing material from the well. Access to these structures was via wooden staircases, whose marks are still visible in the rocky environment.
In front of the larger well, a carefully stratified floor was discovered, composed of a layer of clay mixed with fragmented ceramics and flint debris. This layer of ceramics belongs to the so-called “domestic” ceramics of the Late Bronze Age, synchronized with Mycenaean ceramics of the period (LHIIIC). Although few fragments of actual Mycenaean pottery were found, analysis suggests local production, indicating that the area had a rich and complex cultural life.
The ritual arrangement of the findings is significant. The pottery, deliberately broken, has been found in different areas of the site, a practice that contrasts with the typical accumulation of ceramics in funerary monuments. This intentional act of fragmentation is unique in Cephalonia and suggests previously unexplored ceremonial behavior in the region.
The entrance to the southern well is sealed with a thick layer of pure white calcium carbonate, a feature that is repeated in the northern well. This detail suggests a conscious effort to protect or mark the importance of these spaces. In the northern well, a flat-based vessel, broken into two halves, was found in two different places, further emphasizing the possible ritual intent of these actions.
The wells, dating between 1200 and 1100 B.C., present some of the earliest evidence of material extraction in the Aegean region during the Late Bronze Age. This activity is evident in the use of local resources such as flint and calcium carbonate, which played fundamental roles in daily life and ceremonies.
The discovery of these extraction and material manipulation practices in Cephalonia opens a window into the study of cultural connectivity in prehistoric Europe. Similar phenomena have been documented in more distant areas of northern Europe, suggesting possible exchange or parallel evolution of techniques and symbolism.
Interestingly, calcium carbonate, which played a key role in prehistoric activities, is still extracted by the Greek company IoKal Group in the same region. This highlights the persistence of human practices driven by the natural environment, reflecting how local resources have guided human activity over millennia.
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