Excavations in the area of Eleftherna began in 1985, when the Department of Archeology and Art History of the University of Crete decided to investigate and bring to light the ancient city known from philological evidence. A small area of research had been carried out in the area in 1929 by the British School of Archeology under the direction of H. Payne. The remains have been uncovered in the wider area of the two modern neighboring villages of Eleftherna and Ancient Eleftherna which are located at the northern foothills of Psiloritis and at a distance of 24 and 29 kilometers respectively from the city of Rethymno.
More specifically, the most important findings have been identified in three locations of a hill "located" between two converging streams: at the Orthi Petra site on the western side of the hill (excavation sector III), at the Pyrgi site in the center of the hill (excavation sector II) and at the Katsivelos site on the eastern side of the hill (excavation sector I). Also important are the finds that have been uncovered in the Nisi area, near the modern village of "Eleftherna" and which mainly include the remains of a settlement from the Hellenistic period.
Source: Department of Tourism of the Regional Unity of Rethymnon
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