Ancient Greek Temple: Archaeologists Discover Gold, Silver Jewels on Island of Evia

Greek archeologists discovered an ancient temple on the island of Evia that was filled with hidden treasures such as gold and silver jewels.

The site, which is estimated to be roughly 2,000 years old and dates back to the 7th century BC, is a 100-foot-long building that was unearthed by a team of 50 researchers. In a statement, Greece's Ministry of Culture said that the excavation of the ancient temple brought to light rich offerings.

Ancient Greek Temple

These include Corinthian alabaster, attic vases, ritual prochos, of local production, as well as jewelry made of precious materials, such as gold, silver, and coral. There were a number of other structures that were discovered inside the temple which are believed to have been used as altars by worshippers.

The most unique of the designs that the archeologists discovered was a horseshoe-shaped altar that had thick layers of ash, which was rich in charred bones and suggested steady use. The ministry added that the possibility that some of the unearthed artifacts predate the temple cannot be ruled out, as per Independent.

It also said that the first level of use of the horseshoe altar yielded pottery that dates back to the end of the 8th century BC. In sections that researchers believe are some of the oldest in the ancient temple, they found Geometric period bronze figurines that represented bulls and a ram.

The newly-discovered site overall stretches even deeper into history than the temple itself. Researchers conducted tests that showed remains of buildings that date as far back as the 9th century BC.

In a statement, the ministry said that while the investigation of the earliest of the levels in the temple has only started, the first discoveries suggest that the cult had its roots in the centuries after the end of the Mycenaean period.

The discovery of the latest ancient temple comes after the last one was found in 2017. These were found as excavations have been conducted annually since 15 years ago by a group of Swiss and Greek archeologists, according to CBS News.

Discovery of Hidden Treasures

The ministry said that the newly discovered temple was said to have been partially destroyed in the 6th century BC, likely by a fire. Another temple was then built in the area towards the end of that century.

The research into the ancient site and the temples located within is being conducted in parallel with a survey of the surrounding area. The researchers seek to understand the inclusion of the sanctuary in the ancient landscape by studying the area, its rural settlements and agricultural land, and the communication and connections between ancient cities.

The director of the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece, Sylvian Fachard, noted that most Greek sanctuaries were excavated in the 19th and early 20th centuries. He noted that the possibility of excavating Euboea's largest sanctuary in the 21st century is an extraordinary opportunity.

Fachard noted that what was particularly impressive about the discovery was a votive deposit within the temple. It included more than 700 items that were found in a remarkable state of preservation, said Newsweek.