The German Archaeological Institute of Athens has been active in Greece for 150 years – contributing greatly to the development of classical archeology
The German Archaeological Institute of Athens (DAI) has been conducting archaeological research in Greece for 150 years – with the help of state-of-the-art technologies and satellite imagery, DAI researchers have made a significant contribution to the digitization of the industry, while continuing to search for ancient treasures.
On March 22, an exhibition of the Greek department of the DAI will begin, in which the work of its researchers during the 150 years of the Institute’s operation in Greece will be presented. Through the exhibition, the evolution of the industry over the decades will also be highlighted – from archaeologists of the Indiana Jones type, to the most prudent professionals of today.
When, in the 19th century, groups of archaeologists set out for Greece in search of archaeological finds, the famous German archaeologist and architect Wilhelm Derpfeld advised them to take with them little luggage and only two pairs of trousers, still counting around 22 drachmas in daily travel expenses and their living expenses. Derpfeld himself did research and excavations in ancient Olympia and Troy, among others. From 1887 to 1912 he was director of the Athens DAI.
Today, the head of the DAI is the archaeologist Katia Sborn. The headquarters of the Institute, a neoclassical building at 1 Feidius Street, literally exudes history, as in addition to its architectural value it houses a library with more than 90,000 books, as well as around 150,000 photographic documents from 150 years of research.
Interest in archeology remains lively
People’s interest in archeology remains vibrant, Spohrne says, even expanding in recent years after a temporary decline. However, the approach to archeology has changed. “Today we are interested in historical connections. While in the past we used to ask ourselves, for example, “where could the temple be classified in terms of its architectural typology or its sculptures?”, today we focus on “what was its function?”. In what context was the temple built, what was its political significance and what did the people of the time do when they visited – such things are of interest to today’s visitors and archaeologists.
In addition, “in the past we sought to bring to light as many monuments and remnants of the past as we could,” observes Sborn. Today, on the contrary, “excavations are done slowly and carefully and we record every step in detail”. And there are also some pieces that are deliberately left untouched – in order to preserve them for the archaeologists of the future, who will be able to examine them with different methods, which have not yet been invented.
The great contribution of foreign archaeologists
Greek archaeologists greatly value cooperation with archaeological institutes abroad – in Greece there are a total of 19 departments of foreign archaeological institutes, including one American, one French and one British. “In its 150 years of history, the DAI has lived up to its role,” states Costas Paschalidis, president of the Association of Greek Archaeologists (SEA), who also praises the “extremely innovative way” in which the DAI works. The Institute always works in close coordination with the Greek Ministry of Culture, while it also has a large network worldwide, with the result that “scientific findings reach the whole world”, as Paschalidis points out.
Archaeologist Eleni Stylianou emphasizes for her part how valuable this help is for Greek archaeologists: “The number of antiquities is so great that we would never be able to do what we are doing now if we had to work alone.” Besides, he points out, foreign archaeologists not only have a lot of experience, but also work very methodically. “Our cooperation is based on a give and take: foreign experts locate antiquities in Greece, which they would not be able to find in their homeland. And we, in turn, benefit from their know-how and work, as well as from the financial contribution of the institutes.”
Studying antiquity with cutting-edge technologies
DAI’s interdisciplinary teams are staffed by all kinds of scientists: geologists, biologists, paleobotanists and zoologists, sociologists, and of course computer scientists. And they are leveraging technologies that their predecessors could not even dream of – even airplanes, drones or even satellites.
In a recent project, DAI experts scanned an area of approximately 150 square kilometers in the Kifisos river valley on Parnassos with an aerial laser. “The results of this scan are used to create various models – for example the digital removal of the vegetation of the area, which allows experts to discover the morphology of the terrain,” Spohrne explains. And the team found what they were looking for: 1,300 “anomalies”, as they say, indicating the existence of objects of human origin were detected in the area. “We discovered villages that even the locals didn’t remember existed,” says the archaeologist.
In the first instance, one cannot know whether these findings belong to the period DAI archaeologists are dealing with – that is, if they are placed in time between the Minoan civilization in 3000 BC. until late antiquity in 500 AD. This will be established during a closer examination of the anomalies.
But are there really that many finds to be discovered? The archaeologist laughs. “But of course! In Olympia, for example, we are still looking for the Hippodrome.” Although the traveler and geographer Pausanias had described the Hippodrome in detail in his journal from AD 150, its location has not yet been discovered – although “a hippodrome is rather large”.
The connection between antiquity and today
Along with the archaeological site of Kerameikos in Athens, Kalapodi in Central Greece, Heraion in Samos and the Kifisos Valley, ancient Olympia is one of DAI’s most important projects. According to recent research, Olympia may have even had a port. And, if this is indeed found to be the case, what we believe about this place would change to a great extent, Spohrne says.
What fascinates archaeologists is the connection between antiquity and today. In other words, the fact that even in ancient times there was everything that happens around us today – the flourishing of civilization, trade, migratory flows, but also natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes. And the way in which people at that time reacted to all of this is one of the main questions that archaeologists seek to answer.
Source :Skai
I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
