3th archaeological campaign in Arsalia

Abstract of the campaign

We are a team of archaeologists that participate in a yearly dig in Agios Georgios, Greece, and we need your help in order to achieve the third campaign this july!

The project

Arsalia is a site located near the village of Agios Georgios, in the municipality of Grevena, Greece. More specifically, it is the territory of present-day Western Macedonia, which in ancient times was part of the famous Macedonia where Alexander the Great was born, among other illustrious historical figures. This project is not the first or the only one to be carried out in the Grevena area, as several teams and professionals have worked throughout the municipality over the years as part of the EFA of Grevena Archaeological Program (GAP) launched in 2021. The area of Arsalia has been at the centre of intense surveys and fieldwalking, with the first excavation campaign taking place in 2023, when some structures indicative of a Roman villa were brought to light.

The findings proved the great archaeological potential of the area, leading to a much larger excavation campaign in 2024, which helped consolidate the project as it is today. This not only opened the door to digging deeper into what had been found the previous year, but also allowed the surrounding fields to be investigated, finding evidence of remains in the nearby areas. The plan for 2025 is to expand the previously investigated trenches and to open new ones. However, this will entail technical and logistic challenges that your contributions and support will help face.

The team

The team is made up of volunteers, both veteran archaeologists and passionate beginners, whose contribution we greatly value. The 2024 campaign team was made up of members from the Rovira i Virgili University (Tarragona), Birkbeck College (University of London) and the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (Tarragona). The most notable member is Dr. Simona Perna (ICAC and Autonomous University of Barcelona), who coordinates the excavation team.

While the project is led by professionals, the aim is to train new generations of archaeologists. This approach benefits our discipline greatly, incorporating new ideas and interdisciplinary contributions. It should also be noted that the participants come from different parts of the world, which enriches the team’s diversity.

Here you have the names of the team and all the participants in the 2024 campaign:

Dr Simona Perna -ICAC & Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Dr Owain Morris – ICAC
Dr Marie-Claire Savin – ICAC
Artur Lopez – Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Mar Sanchez – ICAC & Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Irene Liesk – Birkbeck College, University of London
Javier Fernandez – Birkbeck College, University of London
Clara Toledano – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Katherine Hornak – Birkbeck College, University of London
Conor Murtagh – Birkbeck College, University of London
Eddie Chrzczonowicz – Birkbeck College, London of London
Guifre Cusido Santos – Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Ander Jimenez Aberasturi – Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Aleix Navas Sans – Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona
Eric Monreal – Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona
Nuray Çelik Kaplan – Birkbeck College, University of London
Siobhan White – Birkbeck College, University of London
Graham Corton – Birkbeck College, University of London

Calendar

The excavation will be carried out for the whole month of July 2025, occupying practically all of it. However, certain aspects of the campaign need to be carried out and paid for in advance, so preparations are already underway.

Regarding the timing of the delivery of the rewards, we differentiate between those that are digital (which will be delivered as soon as the campaign ends or when they are ready) and the physical ones (to be delivered when we have done them). We estimate they could be offered throughout the last quarter of this year.

The village of Agios Georgios

Agios Georgios is the small village that welcomes us during this adventure and where we can rest after the hard excavation days. Located in the north of Grevena, this village of just over 200 inhabitants is full of surprises, as it hides architectural gems such as its church and chapels or the rural landscapes reminiscent of the famous Gladiator film. All this adds up to the people who inhabit it; many of them are active participants in our project and are always willing to help.

This project is not only a research aspect, but it is also a commitment to the archaeological heritage of the town and its possible future exploitation as an attraction for visitors, which could help the economy of Agios Georgios.

Your contributions

As mentioned, we want to go further this year and open a new sector. To be able to do so, we have increased the team's size, which has consequently increased the project's expenses. So, what will the money you contribute be used for? Here is a breakdown:

1. Food: This is a basic campaign expense that increases with the number of participants.

2. Transport: The archaeological site is in an agricultural area away from the village, to which we need to move in and out daily. So basically, we use a minibus to move the team, tools and findings.

3. Material: The more participants, the more excavation material needed.

4. Tests and analyses: Special findings would benefit from studies carried out by specialists outside the team, which would also increase costs.

Can all this be paid only with the 1000 euros we ask for? Not exactly. Although the project has subsidies and grants, these unfortunately do not cover our entire budget. Therefore, your contribution will help us carry out the excavation in an optimal way (or could even help us to improve both logistically and in research!).

Links

Instagram
Project's website
Email: [email protected]