Intact Ancient Tombstone Discovered on Riverbed in Western Greece

An intact ancient tombstone from the Hellenistic era is the latest discovery of archeologists working along the Arachthos river in Epirus in western Greece.

The heavy object was discovered in the river’s shallow waters, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta said in a Facebook announcement on Friday, providing a first glimpse of the rare find on-site before it was transferred to the Archaeological Museum of Arta.

“The river won’t stop pleasantly surprising us, as it reveals burial monuments, architectural parts and movable finds which add to our knowledge about Ambrakia, the ancient city that was developed by its shore, but also about origins in the area during the Byzantine times,” the post reads.

The tombstone’s embossed floral decoration was saved in excellent condition, and one can easily read the inscriptions featuring the names of two deceased citizens, accompanied by their mutual father’s name and national origin.

The announcement explains that the important finding is related to the burial monuments discovered at the same site the previous year.

Discovery traces ancient Greek cemetery

The first findings along the bed of the river were announced in May 2021 at which time archeologists discovered impressive remains of burial monuments from what appears to be an unknown cemetery of the ancient city of Ambrakia.

Using the latest technology, the local Ephorate of Antiquities, in collaboration with other competent authorities, has continued to search the shores for more ancient artifacts.

The aim is to include the findings in a study, which will serve in creating a complete proposal for the appropriate ways to preserve and showcase them.

The river Arachthos is closely linked to the founding and flourishing of the ancient city of Ambrakia in the 7th century B.C., as well as with the Byzantine and contemporary city of Arta.

Hence, the revelation of as many of Arachthos’s secrets as possible remains a high priority for local archeologists.