Specifically, as stated in today’s announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Greek-Swiss team, led by Dr. Angeliki G. Simosi (Ephorate of Antiquities of Evia) and Professor Karl Reber (Swiss School of Archeology in Greece), carried out investigations in a specific dragon house, located south of Styron.
In ancient times, the monument of Pallis-Lakka, one of the enigmatic dragon houses of Evia, was built, according to the latest archaeological research.
Specifically, as stated in today’s announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Greek-Swiss team, led by Dr. Angeliki G. Simosi (Ephorate of Antiquities of Evia) and Professor Karl Reber (Swiss School of Archeology in Greece), carried out investigations at the specific dragon house, which is located south of Styron.
“The purpose of the research was to clarify the floor plan and the construction method, but, above all, to collect ceramic fragments that will lead to more accurate dating. This year, thanks to the findings of the excavation, the archaeologists were able to confirm that the monument of Palli-Lakka was built in antiquity. Despite the progress made with regard to the dating of the dragon houses, their function is still not clear”, notes the YPPOA and adds: “The discovery of a “wall”, about 1m wide, next to the complex offers new evidence in this direction, although its use still remains unknown (andiro?) and it belongs to the second building phase”.
According to the information of the YPPOA, the dragon houses of Evia, made of square stone bricks without binding material, constructions that in late antiquity were used as sheepfolds, seem to have served other functions for more than two millennia. The monumental size of the building stones and the elaborately constructed, according to the exhortational system, roof made the inhabitants of the area believe that they were built by “dragons”, i.e. anthropomorphic giants with supernatural powers. The buildings located in the mountains of the southern part of Evia have not yet revealed all their secrets, and archaeological research is trying to solve the mystery of their primary use: A small sanctuary, a quarry shelter, or an outpost?
Among the hills, in the southern part of the island, dominates a stone complex of buildings that stands out for the monumental size of the building stones and their roof construction. It consists of three buildings, measuring 12.40m x 6.20m the north and south, while the eastern one is longer, 6.20m x 5.80m. The complex at Palli-Laka is one of the seven “dragon houses” preserved on the slopes of the mountains, which researchers are trying to date, to clarify the identity of their builders, but also to reveal the mystery of their use and functions.
To date, in the area of ​​Styron, seven structures have been identified that show the characteristics of dragon houses. In parallel with the work carried out in Palli-Lakka, the archaeologists began the documentation of the remaining dragon houses at the sites of Lumithel, Kroi-Ftocht, Ilkize and Makkou. Thanks to topographical and photogrammetrical impressions, archaeologists now have 3D models of these houses, which greatly facilitates their study. Finally, the work of the Greek-Swiss group also aims to highlight these monuments, which are among the most visited in the region, providing information to Greek and foreign visitors.
The archaeologists of the Swiss School of Archaeology, Chloé Chezeaux, Jérôme André, Nina Nicole and Tristan Allegro participated in the research team, while on the part of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Evia, the on-site scientific responsibility rests with the head of the department, Fani Stavroulaki.
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