Behind the ropes – Archaeology at Mycenae: Greece

September 2024 - 8 days

Register for 2024 at tours@newscientist.com and we will contact you soon with full tour details.

An interactive tour offering you a unique opportunity to get ‘behind the ropes’ at Mycenae, one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in Greece.

Mycenae gave its name to an entire historical period, the Mycenaean civilisation, reaching its peak around the 13th century. The settlement was excavated for the first time by the archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, who also excavated the cities of Troy and Tyrins, thus gaining the name “the father of Mycenaean Archaeology”.

On day three,  you will have a unique archaeology experience at a one-acre dig simulator. Follow every single step of the dig process, learn many of the techniques and use specialist technology. The dig simulator facilitates intensive, interdisciplinary "hands-on" education and practical field training in real conditions in the controlled environment of a simulated excavation field. Learn how to survey using aerial photography, ground observation and geophysical surveying. Then onto excavation, restoration, and digital applications.

During this tour, you will also visit many hidden gems and famous Mycenean sites of the Peloponnese. Staying in the ancient coastal town of Nafplio and venturing out across this beautiful part of Greece.

Accompanied by professor Christofilis Maggidis, President of the Mycenaean Foundation, and his team of archaeologists.

DAY 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MYCENAEAN WORLD

After flying into Athens airport, you will be transferred to the beautiful seaport town of Nafplio where you will check in to your hotel for the next seven nights and meet your fellow travellers and the tour leader.

In the early evening, there will be a welcome reception with refreshments at the Melathron Centre of the Mycenaean Foundation with an introductory talk "The Mycenaean Empire in the Eastern Mediterranean World" by Professor Christofilis Maggidis, president of the Mycenaean Foundation, plus an outline of the next three days' activity. Then it is back to the hotel in Nafplio for a welcome dinner together.

DAY 2: EXPLORE MYCENAE AND NAFPLIO

Today begins with a private tour of the famous citadel of Mycenae, including the cyclopean walls, the palace, the royal workshops, the cult center, and the underground cistern, led by Professor Christofilis and his team.

Afterward, Dr. Adrianos Psychas, Assistant Director of the Melathron Center, will guide you around the archaeological Museum of Mycenae.

In the afternoon, there will be a walking tour of Nafplio. Discover ancient walls, medieval castles, monuments and statues, Ottoman fountains and Venetian buildings along with its archaeological museum. Then visit the Castle of Palamidi, a 17th-century fortress with a rich history, overlooking Nafplio 200 meters above sea level.

After returning to the hotel to freshen up, Professor Christofilis will give a talk over dinner on "The science behind the discovery of Agamemnon's throne".

DAY 3: ONSITE ARCHAEOLOGIST TRAINING

After a short drive back to Mycenae, you will begin a full-day archaeology experience in the unique one-acre dig simulator and work in the ATREUS Field School archaeology labs, led by field archaeologists and the Mycenaean Foundation's experts. You will experience every single step of the process, learn many of the techniques and use specialist technology.

The dig simulator features reconstructed architectural ruins and archaeological features such as hearths, kilns, wells, houses, shrines, cists and pit graves, tholos and chamber tombs. It also includes plotted finds and spatial distribution of physical remains, including artifacts (reproduced pieces of pottery, figurines, jewelry, tools and weapons) and ecofacts (casts of human skeletons, animal bones and teeth, carbonised wood, organic remains and other bioarchaeological material), and reproduced stratigraphy filled with different types of sediment (occupation layers, destruction layers, floor levels, burnt deposits).

In the morning you will be trained in digging, digital recording, archaeological drafting, stratigraphy, dating and context interpreting with Professor Christofilis and Dr. Adrianos. Then geodetics (GPS, digital measurement and drone photography) followed by archaeological photography and registration.

After lunch, you will move into the lab to work on the conservation of finds, archaeological drawing of various types of finds, drafting conventions and digital illustration taught by Chrysanthe Maggidis and Dr. Adrianos. Finishing off with an interactive seminar on field methodology, stratigraphy and seriation, relative and absolute chronology, phasing and periodization taught by Professor Christofilis.

All participating guests will receive Mycenaean Foundation’s ATREUS Fieldwork Certificate and after such an exciting day, the evening will be at leisure.

DAY 4: BEHIND THE ROPES AT MYCENAE

On your final day at Mycenae, you will start the morning with an archaeological walking survey in an area that hasn't been formally surveyed yet and is off-limits to tourists. You will learn about the systematic survey methods employed by archaeologists in recording, analysing and interpreting a potential site, led by Professor Christofilis and his team.

After lunch on site, you will take part in more "behind-the-ropes" activities with a trek on geomythological paths and ancient roads: covering the site and its surroundings including the famous Tholos Tombs and the excavation site of the Lower Town, led by Dr Adrianos and Mycenaean Foundation archaeologists.

The evening talk at the hotel will be "The future of archaeology - using digital technology and 3D scans to create site reconstructions" by professor Christofilis, followed by a Q&A session and dinner.

DAY 5: EPIDAURUS AND THE KAZARMA BRIDGE

Today, you will start to explore more Mycenaean sites starting with a 40-minute drive to the UNESCO-listed Epidaurus where you will visit the ancient theatre, stadium, archaeological site and museum. It is considered to be the most perfect ancient Greek theatre for acoustics and aesthetics.

When returning to Nafplio, you will stop in on the Mycenaean bridge at Kazarma. The oldest preserved and crossable bridge in Europe. In the evening, you will venture out to have dinner a local taverna.

DAY 6: CORINTH, ACROCORINTH AND NEMEA

One hour from Nafplio is the ancient site of Corinth. It was originally settled in Neolithic times and became a major city in the 8th century BC. Known for its architectural and aesthetic innovations, you will explore its Temple of Apollo, theatre and archaeological museum. 

Followed by the medieval citadel of Acrocorinth. Set upon a monolithic rock and with stunning views of the north-eastern Peloponnese, the modern canal (Isthmus) and the ancient Diolkos, a paved trackway for transporting ships over land.

In the afternoon you will discover Nemea, home to the ancient Nemean Games.  Here, you will tour the ancient sanctuary and stadium, where the ideals of classical sport in Europe were formed.

In the evening, you will venture out again for traditional Greek fair at a local taverna.

DAY 7: SPARTA AND MYSTRAS

Your first visit today is the Archaeological Museum of Sparta which houses thousands of artifacts from the nearby ancient acropolis. It is one of Greece’s oldest archaeological museums and covers from Neolithic to Roman times. Then onto to acropolis itself which is an active dig site. It was from here that Spartans controlled huge swathes of the Peloponnese.

In the afternoon, you will pop into the fortified town and medieval ruins of Mystras. A deserted UNESCO World Heritage Site that was the last center of Byzantine learning and culture. 

Returning to Nafplio, you will enjoy a final night with a farewell dinner.

DAY 8: FAREWELL TO GREECE 

After a farewell breakfast, depart to Athens airport for your journey home.