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Ancient Ruins of Uranopolis

In the wider area of Uranopolis, significant ancient ruins have been found. At a distance of 1 kilometer east of the village, in the area of Kokkinochorafi, a Roman-era tomb was uncovered. It was located on a low hill, near the road leading to the Zygos Monastery and the border of Mount Athos. The discovery was made within the boundaries of a private property during leveling works. The find may not be impressive at first glance, but it provides us with a new clue about an archaeologically unexplored area, which is known for its significant human presence in antiquity.

The tomb is constructed, box-shaped, and oriented parallel to the coastline. The walls of the tomb are built roughly with unworked stones and yellowish clay as the binding material. The floor is made of earth, and the deceased was placed directly on the red soil in a supine position. The only grave goods found are a copper coin on the chest of the deceased and an unpainted clay lamp next to his left foot.

Chronologically, the find is dated to the third quarter of the 3rd century AD. Above the tomb, there was a low mound of stones. The interesting element is that similar stone mounds are found in several locations in the surrounding area, a sign that may indicate the existence of an organized ancient cemetery. Further to the north, at a short distance from the aforementioned location, there is a water bridge and a colonnade with a water management system from the post-Byzantine period, as well as other works that seem to be part of a broader water supply system for the area.

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At a higher elevation, in the area of Kokkina, on private property, remnants of an important Hellenistic building were excavated in 1959 by the then curator Manolis Andronikos, following the discovery by the owner of marble blocks and the finding of ancient objects such as clay lamps, copper coins, and lead sheets. The excavation was rather small-scale and was halted prematurely.

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