Ancient Olympia - 2025

Ancient Olympia. In 2025, the synergasia between the Ephorate of Antiquities of Elis and the DAI, directed by Erofili-Iris Kolia, with Oliver Pilz (University of Mainz) and Andreas Vött (University of Mainz), continued with geoarchaeological and geophysical surveys in the immediate periphery of the sanctuary. 

High-resolution investigations using electromagnetic induction (EMI) methods were carried out in the slope area south of the German Archaeological Institute's (DAI) excavation house, particularly in the slope area downhill from the Eileithyia sanctuary. Furthermore, ERT direct push measurements, and boreholes were carried out in the lower and middle slope areas. Preliminary review of the results suggests that another building may be located beneath the slope sediments, below the Eileithyia sanctuary. Investigations were also conducted on the western Kladeos terrace between the known beginning of the Kladeos wall in the north and the ford's mouth across the Kladeos River in the south. Over a distance of approximately 350m, starting at the known northern end of the Kladeos wall, ERT measurements revealed clear indications of the existence of a second wall running parallel to the known Kladeos wall further west (Fig. 1).The suspected wall runs approximately 30 m to the north and up to 60 m south of the known cladeos wall, potentially forming a conduit for the safe discharge of the cladeos, a hypothesis tested also by direct push measurements and boreholes, drilled along five transects immediately west of the identified wall. Both observations support the hypothesis of an artificial (wall) structure separating the depositional environment. Finally, supplementary seismic and induction-electrical measurements were conducted in the area of ​​the building structure discovered during earlier investigations south of the Southwest Baths. These measurements are intended to provide further information about the internal structure of the building.