Lerna, Archaeological site in Myloi, Greece
Lerna is an archaeological site in Myloi within the Argos-Mykines municipality in Greece, where building foundations, pottery fragments, and artifacts from different settlement layers spanning several millennia have been uncovered. The remains spread across an open area near the present coastal plain and include walls, towers, and the layout of a large administrative building from the early Bronze Age.
The settlement began in the Neolithic period and reached its height during the early Bronze Age, when inhabitants built fortified walls and a large public building. After destruction around 2200 BCE, the area was resettled and remained occupied into the Mycenaean period, with later generations covering the monumental structure with an earthen mound.
The name refers to the swampy lowland that once covered much of the coastal plain and appears in Greek myths as the setting for one of Hercules' labors. Today visitors can still trace the foundations of the multi-story administrative building, where clay seals suggest organized storage and show how people managed their community thousands of years ago.
The site sits roughly thirty meters (about 100 feet) above sea level and can be reached via roads through the Argos-Mykines municipality near the village of Myloi. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear, as the ground is uneven and loose stones cover parts of the area.
More than one hundred fifty clay seals with roughly sixty different stamp impressions were found here, pointing to an early form of record-keeping and administration during the Bronze Age. The seals likely marked and controlled storage containers, representing a notable organizational achievement for that time.
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