The Ephorate of Antiquities of Kefalonia and Ithaca, following a suggestion of the location (2/2023), proceeded and is proceeding (4/2023 and whenever possible and permitted in the context of all official obligations) to a rescue survey at the location “Kotroni” Lakithra, just outside Argostoli. The “Kotroni” position is located in a gap and has an unobstructed view across Livatho, part of Krania, towards the airport area and Zakynthos.

The circular construction, which was faintly visible in the bushy, orgiastic vegetation, created expectations for a new burial monument of the type of the Mavrates or the Tzanata, but the outcome was unexpected.

In this place that remains inaccessible to man at least since the 1940s, according to the aerial photographs of the Land Registry, surprises have been almost constant. Two large wells up to five metres deep gradually came to light, surrounded by “architecturally” arranged stone rings, giving monumental character to the individual ones while holding back the outer slopes of earth and stones, which in turn create the image of a mound.

These wells belong to a larger set, they are the footprints in the area of the extraction process. These wells have been refilled and have emerged as a landmark in a prominent location. They date to the period after 1200 and up to 1100 BC perhaps even a little later. The whole is the result of a few years’ activity, as is evident from the unity of the pottery, from whatever layer and point it was recovered, the arrangement of the stratigraphy, the amazing preservation of tool traces in the walls of the natural rock.

The data point to one of the earliest mining sites in Greece (and not only), unique for the Late Bronze Age, with the research data also pointing to ritual behaviour. Similar phenomena have been found elsewhere, but far away from the Ionian Sea and Kefalonia, mainly in northern Europe. Further research will show the degree of association with similar morphological features and mining techniques in the imaginary zone extending from southern Britain to Poland.