Ministry of Culture: Damage to the archaeological site of Vounteni limited

The damage from the fire at the archaeological site of Vounteni is limited, the Ministry of Culture reports. In a statement today, it notes that the fire that broke out in the area of Sychena, Patras, entered the archaeological site this morning, from the side of the prehistoric settlement. It spread rapidly within the archaeological site and burned down the forest sections with dense vegetation (pines, holly trees, etc.). The entire area of the Mycenaean cemetery, the visitor routes, and the settlement were completely and meticulously deforested by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaia.

As the announcement of the Ministry of Culture adds, the Mycenaean tombs were not damaged. Of the protective shelters of the tombs, the two largest ones were also not damaged. Six smaller ones burned, the replacement of which will be carried out immediately, as soon as conditions permit. There is no information about the condition of the remains of the settlement, because access is impossible at this time. The modern buildings of the archaeological site (ticket office, guardhouse, screening area, visitor service areas, as well as the staff building) remained intact. There is damage, in places, to the visitor movement routes. The wooden seating areas and large kiosks in the settlement area were destroyed, as were two warehouses, one of which was empty and the second was used to store tools, materials and plastic boxes with pottery shards from old excavations. All the preserved ceramic finds from the excavations were transferred, for security reasons, in 2016, to the warehouses of the Archaeological Museum of Patras.

Given that the phenomenon is ongoing and access is currently not allowed, a detailed inventory and assessment of the damage will follow, when conditions permit. The archaeological site will remain closed to the public until its functionality is restored. So far, and following investigation, no damage has been noted in other areas or monuments under the jurisdiction of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaia, as the announcement of the Ministry of Culture points out.