Prehistoric houses of Toumba

What I can see

On a small hill in Toumba, which is 23-metres high and offers a beautiful view of the city, there is a prehistoric settlement that is over 3,500 years old and at the classical period, it covered an area of more than 95,000 square metres. Unfortunately, the monument is not open to visitors and is covered, for better protection from weather conditions. Nevertheless, it’s worth trying to approach it. Archaeological excavations revealed this as one of dozens of settlements in the Thermaic Gulf and has more than10 construction phases. From the Middle Bronze Age until the 1st Millennium BC, the settlement was extended to the hill’s natural borders and later expanded beyond the hill.

What I can't see

Details about daily life in the settlement between the 14^th and 12^th centuries BC can be gleaned from its various vessels, multipurpose spaces, public areas, food-warehouses, the strong foundations of its buildings, its insulation and an impressive precinct, which demarcated and protected the settlement. The high standard of living is apparent in the white coating inside the buildings. Changes in the settlement (location, size, shape, layout), especially from the Late Bronze Age to the early Iron Age, show a thriving community with commercial and political relations with other settlements of the Thermaic Gulf. The settlement was inhabited and was being expanded until the Archaic and Classical periods by wealthy residents, as shown in buildings, everyday objects, its trade with the Aegean Islands, Attica, Corinth and Asia Minor and the nearby tombs from that era. The settlement degrades over the next years,
mainly due to the founding of Thessaloniki.

Info

• Address: Toumba hill

Bibliography