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The Path to The Helike Project

The Helike Project under the direction of archaeologist Dora Katsonopoulou and co-direction of physicist Steven Soter began to search for the city in 1988, with a systematic sonar survey of the seafloor southeast of Aigion. The survey determined that the site is not under water. Since 1991, the Helike Project team carried out campaigns on the adjacent coastal plain using surface surveys, geophysical exploration, extensive bore hole drilling. Since 2000 started trial and systematic excavations under a permit from the Ministry of Culture held by the Helike Society and the Department of Geology of Patras University.

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Directorship

Director
Prof. Dora Katsonopoulou, President, The Helike Society, Athens

Co-Directors for Geosciences

Dr. Steven Soter Museum of Natural History,New York 
Prof. Ioannis Koukouvelas, Geology Department, University of Patras

Sedimentology and Environmental Studies
Prof. Nikos Kontopoulos Department of Geology, University of Patras

Geophysical reacherch and studies 

Prof. Gregorios Tsokas, University of Thesalloniki

Prof. Stavros Papamarinopoulos,University of Patras

Argaeological and Cultural Heritage studies 

+Dr. George Papathanassopoulos,Greek Minister of culture

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Associates

Dr Carlos Alvarez-Zarikian, Texas A&M University (paleoenvironment)
Ms. Dimitra Balafa, Conservator, Greek Ministry of Culture

Mr Kostantinos Kioussis Conservator

Dr Elena Partida Archaeologist,Greek Ministry of Culture
Prof. Kimon Christanis, Geologist, University of Patras (mineral raw materials - charcoal analysis)
Dr Margaret Erwin Butler, Archaeologist, Tulane University, USA (Hellenistic Pottery)
Assoc. Prof. Yorgos Facorellis, Chemist, University of West Attica (Archaeometric Analysis)
Dr Sandra Garvie-Lock, University of Alberta, Canada (Skeletal Remains)
Dr George Iliopoulos, Palaeontologist, University of Patras (bone analysis)
Dr Ioannis Iliopoulos, Geologist, University of Patras (Clay Analysis and Petrography)
Prof. Lilian Karali, Archaeologist, University of Athens (Environmental Archaeology)
Dr Stella Katsarou, Archaeologist, Greek Ministry of Culture (Early Helladic Pottery)
Mr Nicholas Thompson, Archaeologist, Nauplio, Greece (Lithics)
Dr Linda Tsampiri, Archaeologist, University of Athens (Geometric Pottery)
Dr Robert Weir, Coin Specialist, University of Windsor, Canada 

Mrs Mariza Kormann Rotrigyes Landscape Archaeologist

Digital Helike Project

Milestones

Scroll to learn about our company’s journey

YEAR

373 BC

A combination of a violent earthquake and tsunami destroyed the classical city of Helike

1991

2000

2003

The search is redirected on land using borehole drilling  and found evidence of ancient occupation ranging from the Neolithic to the Late Byzantine times.

Dora and her team made another important discovery in the Helike plain.  Their excavations brought to light the first remains of an unknown settlement.

1995

Following the successful discovery of the precise location of Helike , the Helike Project team discovered  the first ever found remains of a Geometric settlement.

An international team led by  archaeologist Dora Katsonopoulou and  physicist Steven Soter began an underwater  servaymultidisciplinary search for the lost city. 

The first successful excavations of the Helike Project were carried out under the direction of Dora  across the Helike Plain

First excavation  in the Helike Plain was conducted by Dora and her team and brought to light the remains of a large Roman building.  

Dora and The Helike Project team made the first discovery of ruins associated with the famous destruction of the 373 BC earthquake.

1988

2001

2012

YEAR

1988

1991

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