The scientific conference “Half a century of cave protection and research” is being organized by the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology and Speleology on Thursday, October 9, 2025, in the lecture hall of the Epigraphic Museum. (Tositsa 1, Athens).
Schedule of events and lectures
9:00-09:30 Arrival | Registration
09:30-10:00 Official greetings
10:00-10:15 Andreas Darlas
Half a century in the service of caves. The work of the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology and Speleology in protection and research. Screening of a film about Evangelia Protonotariou-Deilaki.
10:15-10:30 Vivi Vasilopoulou
Evangelia Deilaki as a Leader and a Person.
10:30-10:45 Nina Kyparissi-Apostolika
The Ephorate of Paleoanthropology and Speleology of the Ministry of Culture, a unique research service within the public sector: 1986-2011 omissions….
10:45-11:00 Andreas Darlas
Paleolithic Archaeology in Greece and the role of caves in its promotion.
11:00-11:15 Paraskevi Elefanti, Gilbert Marshall
The transition from the end of the Pleistocene to the beginning of the Holocene in Greece in light of flaked stone tools.
11:15-11:30 Adamantios Sampson
The transition from the Late Mesolithic to the Early Neolithic:
New data from the Sarakino cave.
11:30-11:45 Stella Katsarou
The contribution of cave excavations to our knowledge of Greek Prehistory.
11:45-12:00 Break
12:00-12:15 Ioanna Efstathiou
The caves of Crete. From Neolithic shelters to cradles of deities. 12:15-12:30 Zoe Ince, Michalis Kontos, Christina Michelaki, Anastasios Syros Prehistoric stories from the caves of Northern Greece.
12:30-12:45 Chrysanthi Kontaxi, Eleni Stravopodi, Angeliki Kaznesi A new interpretation of the use of caves in prehistoric
Peloponnese.
12:45-13:00 Georgia Stratouli
In the Cave of Drakena in Poros, Kefalonia: Interpretations
of Neolithic rituals.
13:00-13:15 Zoi Intse, Anastasios Syros
The cave park of Loutra Loutrakiou, Municipality of Almopia. Protection and Research.
13:15-13:30 Fanis Mavridis
The prehistory of the Cyclades through cave research.
13:30-13:45 Fotios Georgiadis
Classical Archaeology at the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology
and Speleology.
13:45-14:00 Alexandra Mari, Lina Kormazopoulou, Fanis Mavridis, Antigone Papadea
Tracking the caves of Attica. Synthesis of old and new archaeological data.
2:00-2:15 p.m. Lina Kormazopoulou, Dimitris Hatzilazarou
Use of early Byzantine caves in the context of danger. The case of the Andritsa cave and some assumptions about
caves in the wider area.
14:15-14:30 Alexandra Oikonomou
Cave cleaning projects from epilithic flora included in co-funded programs.
14:30-14:40 Screening of a film on the work of the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology and Speleology
14:40-15:30 Lunch break
15:30-15:45 Yannis Basiakos
40 years of studies in cave environments: Results and
interpretations.
15:45-16:00 George Fakorellis
50 Years of Paleoanthropology-Speleology: Half a century of excavations and 35 years of collaboration and
radiocarbon dating.
16:00-16:15 George Iliopoulos, Maria Kolendrianou, Marianthi Tzortzi, Penelope Papadopoulou, Dimitra Valavani, Panagiota Pierrou, James Bendle
15 years of collaboration between the Laboratory of Paleontology and
Stratigraphy (Department of Geology) of the University of Patras and the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology and Speleology in the research of Greek caves.
16:15-16:30 Ioannis Alexopoulos, Ioannis-Konstantinos Giannopoulos, Anastasios Syros, Chrysanthi Kontaxi
Innovative monitoring and investigation techniques in modern archaeology: The case study of Petrotos Alistratis, Serres.
16:30-16:45 Georgia Tsartsidou
Plant fossils: Microscopic evidence of human activity in prehistoric caves.
16:45-17:00 Athanasios Athanasiou
Paleontological research at the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology
and Speleology.
17:00-17:15 Stefanos Ligkovanlis
Detecting the linguistic ability of prehistoric humans. The contribution of research by the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology
and Speleology.
17:15-17:30 Christina Papageorgopoulou, Elissavet Ganiatsou, Asterios Aidonis, Panagiota Bandavanou, Angelos Soules, Christina Kakasa
Applications of analytical and digital methods in the study and presentation of anthropological material from caves in Greece. 17:30-17:45 Break
17:45-18:00 Anastasia Papathanassiou
30 years of archaeological study of human osteological remains and interpretative approaches.
18:00-18:15 Eleni Stravopodi
The study of ancient bone in contemporary research on prehistoric Greece: Open questions.
18:15-18:30 Aikaterini Trantalidou
“Νύμφηισιν κἀπόλλωνι Νυμφηγέτηι θῆλυ καὶ ἄρσεν ἃμ βόληι
προσέρδεν”. Evidence of repeated practices in cult caves.
6:30-6:45 p.m. Eleni Kotzampopoulou
From the excavation to the museum: the Paleolithic collection of Epirus and public archaeology initiatives.
18:45-19:00 Anastasia Gadolou, Fotios Georgiadis
“In the Cave: Stories from Darkness to Light.” A temporary exhibition on cave archaeology.
19:00-19:15 Agni Karadimou
Caves and the Greek World Heritage List: a notable absence. Proposal for its reversal through a
possible scenario for the nomination of the caves of Petralona and Theopetra.
19:15-19:30 Vagia Mastrogiannopoulou
The work and contribution of Manon Renieri from her personal archive in the building of the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology and Speleology.
19:30 Reception with wine
Wall Posters
Christos Agouridis, Vasilis Giannopoulos, Theologos Kontrolos Underwater paleontological and archaeological research by the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology and Speleology.
George Valvis
Caves of the Dodecanese and the activities of the EPS.
Ioanna Efstathiou
Caves of Astypalea: From the Mesolithic to historical times.
Angeliki Kaznesi, Chrysanthi Kontaxi, Eleni Stravopodi
Cave of God Sophia Katsomatado, Chania: Investigating the nature of a prehistoric settlement in western Crete.
Eleni Stravopodi, Chrysanthi Kontaxi, Athanasios Athanasiou
Gerani Cave in Rethymno: Archaeological investigation in the context of its promotion.
Ioanna Efstathiou, Nikos Daskalakis
“Dikteon Cave.” New research on old excavations.
Ilias Liakopoulos
Six important caves of archaeological interest in the Prefecture of Lasithi. Presentation of the initial conclusions from recent autopsies.
Ioanna Zygoori
Female figurines from the “Nymphs” cave in Lechova, Corinthia.
Eleni Stravopodi
New analytical methods in paleopathology: Case study of the cave of Perachora, Corinthia.
Ioanna Efstathiou, Giannis Basiakos, Elli Karkazi.
Surface survey of caves on the Malea peninsula, Laconia.
Georgia Tsartsidou, Alexandra Mari, Athanasios Athanasiou
The diachronic presence of humans in caves in Boeotia and Phocis: New findings.
Ioanna Efstathiou, Stella Katsarou, Antigoni Papadea
Caves of the Ionian and Western Greece: Human activity, recent data and research prospects.
Michalis Kontos
Restoration project of the Theopetra Cave.
Zoi Intze, Agni Karadimou
The “Lazaradon” and “Neraida” caves in the Municipality of Servia, Kozani Regional Unit.
Michalis Kontos, Christina Michelaki
The diachronic use of the Prespa caves.
Miltos Myteleltsis, Anastasios Syros
Waterfall Cave of Sidirokastro, Serres.
Miltos Myteleltsis, Anastasios Syros
Atspa Cave, Skala Marion, Thasos.
Panagiota Gioni
Conserving archaeological finds from caves: Specificities and challenges.
Vivi Bilali, Chrysanthi Kontaxi, Christina Michelaki, Ioanna Efstathiou, Stella Katsarou, Angeliki Kaznesi, Pinelopi-Maria Deilaki
Educational programs and activities of the Paleanthropology and Speleology Ephorate: When caves become a reason for learning, play, and creation.
Elli Karkazi, Athanasios Athanasiou, Andreas Ntarlas
From the cave to the digital world: The design and creation of the Petralona digital museum using 3D technology.
Vivi Bilali, Chrysanthi Fotiadou
Applications of three-dimensional digital technology: The experience from the conservation laboratory of the Paleanthropology – Speleology Ephorate.
Pinelopi-Maria Deilaki
From pencil to pixel: The evolution of archaeological depiction.
Dimitra Bakogiannaki
The artistic process of design representation for cult figurines. Comments and observations.
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