Prehistoric mound from N, Argissa

Step trench on W side of prehistoric mound, Argissa

Summary: Settlement site with important Neolithic levels.
Type: Settlement
Region: Thessaly

Periods:

Neolithic

Early Bronze Age

Middle Bronze Age

Late Bronze Age

Dark Age

Geometric

Archaic

Classical

Hellenistic

Physical:

An artificial mound (or magoula) of over 11 m of occupation deposits on the N bank of the Peneios ca. 4 km W of Larissa.

Description:

The site was first settled in the Aceramic Neolithic and continued to be occupied throughout the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. The mound served as the acropolis of Mycenaean Argissa and Classical Argyra. The Classical city spread to the plateau below. Two concentric fortification walls (the inner wall dating perhaps to the Archaic period) encircled the Hellenistic city.

Exploration:

German excavations directed by V. Milojcic; 1955-1958, 1969.

Sources Used:

Rossiter 1977, 422; Leekley and Efstratiou 1980, 139

Other Bibliography:

V. Milojcic, J. Boessneck and M. Hopf, Die deutschen Ausgrabungen auf der Argissa-Magula in Thessalien I: Das präkermische Neolithikum. (BAM 2) (Bonn 1962). V. Milojcic and E. Hanschmann, Die deutschen Ausgrabungen auf der Argissa-Magula in Thessalien III: Die frühe und beginnende Mittlere Bronzezeit. (BAM 13-14) (Bonn 1976).