POLIOCHNI
Poliochni, which is located in the eastern part of the island, at Voroskopos near the village of Kaminia, was one of the most important settlements in the Aegean area during the 3rd millennium BC. and today it is the oldest prehistoric settlement in Europe.

Poliochni belonged to the same culture as Troy of the time. The construction phases of this prehistoric settlement cover without interruption the entire 3rd millennium BC. while the finds that have come to light show that the city was abandoned for a long time and was reactivated, but sporadically, during the 2nd millennium.

The discovery of Poliochni
Poliochni was discovered in the summer of 1930, after investigations carried out at the site by the Italian Archaeological School of Athens. Excavations were carried out in two periods, the first lasting from 1930 to 1936 and the second post-war period from 1951 to 1956. Maintenance and cleaning work was carried out from 1986 to 1995

Very important findings emerged from the excavations. It is a large part of an Early Bronze Age settlement, with many phases of architectural and cultural development covering the entire 3rd BC. Millenium.

The excavators symbolized each architectural phase with a distinct color distinguishing seven total periods, the last of which coincided with counterparts of the opposite Troy.

Poliochni is considered the first organized settlement in Europe. With granaries and the first (global) place of assembly and consultation (parliament).

Lemnos 6 millennia ago
The prehistoric settlement of Poliochni of the Early Bronze Age was founded at the turn of the 4th to the 3rd millennium BC. on a hill, in the bay of Vroskopos, on the east coast of the island. He knew many phases of architecture and cultural development that were conventionally attributed by the excavators with a distinct color (the colors of Poliochni):

Melani Period
At its beginning, the settlement occupies a limited area. The buildings belong to ellipsoidal huts with large dimensions.

Blue Period
A small town gradually develops. The physiognomy of the settlement changes with the addition of an imposing fortification wall made of dry stone that protects the settlement both from the inland and from the sea. The image is completed by the first public buildings: a meeting place for the residents (the 'parliament') and the communal granary.

Green and Red Period
Expansion of the settlement towards the west and construction of an addition to the already existing wall. During the red period the wall is reinforced with semi-circular parapets. Private houses are now presented in clusters of rooms.

Yellow Period
Remains of this period were mainly explored at the top of the hill. Two paved streets run through the town. Large storage areas were also revealed in the central mega-shaped building.

Gray and Violet Period
The building remains of the city are meager and do not testify to the structure of the settlement, which is limited.

(The information was taken from the website of the Ministry of Culture www.culture.gr)

Poliochni - The prehistoric jewel of Lemnos
Thea, directly across from Kaveriion of Samothrace, experienced a long period of life from the 8th BC. century, until late antiquity. The excavations of the Italian Archaeological School of Athens brought to light a magical sacred space, which transports the visitor to the period of worship of the Kaveri in Lemnos.

The buildings of the Sanctuary are built on two small platforms formed on the slope of the low hill, which descends steeply to the sea forming Cape Chloe. On the land side, the precinct of the sanctuary runs along the ridge, while on the sea side, the sanctuary area is protected by strong ramparts.

Kaveri, the children of Hephaestus
The northern plateau is occupied by the ceremonial area of ​​Hellenistic times. It is a prostyle building with twelve Doric columns. The final court dating back to around 200 BC. it was looted and burned during Roman times (2nd and 3rd century AD), when the area was abandoned and served as a quarry for the construction of later buildings.

On the southern plateau, a execution house of the archaic times was recently discovered, consisting of a building with a rectangular plan with a circular projection, which was a kind of altar or step. The form of the building and the finds reinforce the view that this is the most ancient phase of the execution house, probably built at the beginning of the 7th century BC. and was destroyed in the second half of the same century.

The Cult of the Kaveri
On the southern plateau, the archaeological dig brought to light a post-Roman ritual site that is based on the archaic one. Its ruins represent the last period of existence of the worship sanctuary of the Kaveri. The total destruction of the building and the definitive end of the sanctuary, it is possible that it was probably due to the destructive fury of the Christians, at the end of the 3rd or the beginning of the 4th century BC.

Today the prehistoric city is a fully organized archaeological site with free entry for visitors.

Hours: Winter. Phone 2254091249

KAVEIRIO
According to mythology, 'Kaveri' were the three sons and three daughters of Hephaestus and Kavera and were worshiped in Lemnos as deities. Their worship was intensely mystical and included the ceremonies that became known as the 'Kaverian Mysteries' and were related to the regeneration of nature and fertility.

Sanctuary of Kaveri in the Municipality of Moudros
The sanctuary of Kaveri, located on the NE side of the island in the area of ​​Chlois at a point with an impressive

The rites of worship and initiation lasted nine days. During the ceremonies they extinguished all the fires on the island and sent a ship to Delos, the island of the light-giver Apollo, to bring new light. Life on the island stopped until the arrival of the new light. Everyone was waiting for the ship to arrive with the new light to resume their lives at a normal pace.

The Sanctuary of Kaveri today
Those who wish to admire the Sanctuary of Kaveri up close, can visit it every day, from 8:30 am. until 3:00 p.m. (Closed on Monday). The entrance for the public is free and it is possible to access the archaeological site by car.

For those who want a different proposal, there is an ecological path that connects the Sanctuary of Kaveri with the site of the Ancient Volcano, offering the walker a unique experience.

(The details of the excavation were taken from the website of the Ministry of Culture www.culture.gr)

PHAESTIA
Hephaestia, built in the Gulf of Pournia, on the North-East side of the island, was during historical times, the second most important city of Lemnos, after Myrina.

The impressive theater of
Hephaistia dates back to the Chalcolithic era and seems to have been continuously inhabited until the Byzantine years.

The excavations carried out by the Italian School of Archeology and the Kth Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, brought to light antiquities that document the continuous habitation in the area from the late Bronze Age to Byzantine times.

The archaeological excavations were able to reveal, among others, the sanctuary of the Great Goddess, necropolises, baths, a large building - most likely a palace and a Hellenistic-Roman theater.

The discovery of a cemetery, dating from the mid-8th to the mid-5th century BC. and an important sanctuary, provide important evidence for the city of archaic times. The sanctuary, which was identified with the sanctuary of the Great Goddess and is built on the western sides of the peninsula, inside the city, was in use from the middle of the 8th to the middle of the 6th century BC, when it was violently destroyed.

The Ancient Hephaistia today
The building remains of the central complex are on two levels, the lower west, which consists of seven contiguous small spaces and the higher east which consists of three spaces opening into a courtyard.

Among the visible monuments of the archaeological site, two ceramic workshop kilns from the Hellenistic period (2nd-1st century BC) that were discovered near the religious building are also important.

Also preserved are the remains of the theater of Hephaestia which dates back to the beginning of the Hellenistic period and underwent modifications during the Roman era.

The island of Hephaestus is revealed
To the east of the city, near the sea, bath facilities and the remains of Hellenistic-era houses were discovered.

Those who wish to admire the ancient Hephaestia up close can visit it every day, from 8:30am. until 3:00 p.m. (Closed on Monday). The entrance for the public is free and it is possible to access the archaeological site by car.