Last year, a team of 50 archaeologists uncovered an unknown temple near the Temple of Amarysia Artemis on the Greek island of Evia.
The majority of the temple dates to the 7th century BC, but archaeologists recently discovered portions of the site that are even older.
Inside the temple they found 2,700-year-old altars that seemed to be used often, filled with ash featuring alabaster, vases, jugs, amulets, and jewellery.
The temple’s length reaches 100 feet (34 metres) and on its eastern side, the temple preserves a well-constructed wall with a pilaster, while its western side ends in an arch.
According to a statement from Greece’s Ministry of Culture, it was built of rough bricks on a foundation of dry stone, which proves that the ground was still swampy at the time of its construction.
Along the inner wall, the temple was strengthened by pillars located at regular intervals.
The most unique looking design was said to be a horseshoe-shaped altar.
It contained thick layers of ash with containments of charred bones.
“The possibility that some of them predate the temple cannot be ruled out,” the statement reads.
“The first level of use of the horseshoe altar yielded pottery dating to the end of the 8th century BC.”
The find didn’t stop at remnants of altars, either.
The team of Swiss and Greek researchers found Corinthian alabaster, Attic vases, and locally-made ritual jugs. They also uncovered gold, silver, coral, and amber jewellery, amulets from the East, and bronze and iron fittings.
They determined that a portion of the temple was likely destroyed in a fire.
This likely led to brick partitions being put in place to protect the remaining sections, and a new section was likely created at the end of the 6th century.
Part of the oldest sections, researchers discovered Geometric period bronze figurines representing bulls and a ram.
A clay bull head from the Mycenean period was also located on site.
“Although the investigation of the earliest of these levels has only just begun, the first discoveries suggest that the cult had its roots in the centuries after the end of the Mycenaean period.”
