In Mandalo Giannitsa, at the foot of Mount Paiko, a site was excavated during the 1980s where there was a settlement of the Late Neolithic period and the early Bronze Age (4,500-3,200 BC)
The excavation revealed stilt houses and a stone enclosure 20 m long, 2.5 m wide and 1.5 m high, which intersects the settlement.
The houses of the settlement are built with the basic materials of wood and clay, that is, their walls were made of stacked clay mixed with straw, placed around a wooden frame made of vertical piles of tree trunks and woven branches between them.
The presence in the settlement of clay crucibles and some copper objects testifies to the use and processing of metals before the end of the Neolithic. The presence of obsidian from the Carpathians was also found, indicating trade relations with this region.
Of interest are the female figurines, one of which naturally reproduces the lower part of the body of the female figure, while the upper part has a slot where an inlaid head, which was made of another material, was inserted. The other female figurine is in a semi-sitting position and also had an inset head of another material. Both figurines are kept in the archaeological museum of Pella.
The tombs of Mandalus date from the Neolithic era, while the settlement continues to exist even in the early Bronze Age. After the conquest of northern Vottiaia by the Macedonians (end of the 6th century BC) until the beginning of the 1st century BC. h. the settlement (Mandalos B') is preserved, while it also existed during the Roman and early Christian era (Mandalos C' settlement)
From the eastern cemetery of settlement B comes an "Illyrian type" bronze helmet, iron knives and a marble tombstone, dating to the second half of the 4th century BC. century.
As regards the Roman and early Christian phase of the settlement, a building with a damaged mosaic, tombstones and altars, a marble statue from late Roman times, etc. were found at the "Kyrie Eleeson" site.
Probably here should be placed the region of Mandarai, mentioned by Stephen Byzantium. If this is true, then western Kyrrestiki was called Mandarai and the settlements of Anydros, Mandalos, Mavros and Litharia belonged to this area.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou