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The Cave of the Lakes, situated at an altitude of approximately 800 m on Mount Helmos in northeastern Peloponnese, hosted a short-lived Neolithic settlement at its natural entrance toward the end of the 5th millennium BC. This settlement effectively formed a small village extending around the cave entrance, while parts of the interior were also used for specific purposes (e.g. storage).<\/p>\n
Prior to the 5th millennium BC, the area was unsuitable for habitation, as it was flooded by water flowing through the cave like a river. After the Neolithic period, the site was reused during the Early and Middle Bronze Age (3rd and 2nd millennia BC), with intervening occupational gaps. Among all prehistoric phases of use within the cave, the Neolithic occupation displays the greatest density, duration, and spatial extent.<\/p>\n
Most Neolithic vessels are coarse wares, predominantly dark brown in colour. The most common forms are bowls and deep open jars, which would have served the preparation and consumption of food, and possibly certain forms of food preservation. Painted pottery and vessels with polychrome surfaces are entirely absent. However, incised decoration is present and exhibits rare characteristics: lines, cross-hatched rectangles, and triangles were executed with extremely fine, barely visible incisions, especially on bowls. Typical plastic and cord-impressed decoration of the period is also present on deeper vessels.<\/p>\n
Coarse pottery also characterizes the Bronze Age occupation of the cave. From the Middle Helladic period, vessels with grooves and a number of fine cups stand out. Toward the end of this period, an ossuary was established in a niche immediately inside the cave entrance.\u00a0The Cave of the Lakes is one of the very few caves in mainland Greece that combine high altitude with long-term prehistoric use. During the Neolithic, it was most likely used for systematic seasonal occupation by mobile groups\u2014probably pastoralists\u2014who spent the winter months in the lowlands of the Peloponnese. The presence of an open-air settlement of the later Bronze Age in close proximity to the cave, together with the establishment of the ossuary, may indicate that during this phase the cave\u2019s users originated from the immediate surrounding landscape.<\/p>\n
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Excavation by the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology-Speleology<\/em><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_column width=\u201d1\/3\u2033][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_row el_class=\u201ds2-project-read-more\u201d][vc_column width=\u201d2\/3\u2033][vc_column_text]2025,\u00a0<\/em>S. Katsarou,\u00a0Cave excavations and their contribution to understanding Greek prehistory,<\/a>\u00a0Half a Century of Cave Protection and Research. Symposium Dedicated to the Memory of Evangelia Protonotariou-Deilaki, Athens, Epigraphic Museum, 9 October 2025<\/em>\u00a0(Organizer: Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology-Speleology).\u00a0<\/em>[in Greek]<\/span><\/p>\n 2025, S. Katsarou,<\/em> A. Darlas, Water in caves. Aspects of social ecology in the Bronze Age mainland and the Aegean.<\/a> In: R. Laffineur, G-J. Wijngaarden, J.-P. Crielaard, J. Crouwel, J. Driessen, J. Hilditch (eds.), HYDOR. Water Resources and Management in the Aegean Bronze Age. <\/em>Proceedings of the XXth International Aegean Conference,<\/em> University of Amsterdam, 11-16 June 2024. <\/em>Li\u00e8ge. Aegaeum<\/em> 50.<\/p>\n 2025, S. Katsarou, R\u00e4tselhafte H\u00f6hlen in Griechenland. Wechselwirkungen zwischen Kultur und Natur als Herausforderungen der H\u00f6hlenarch\u00e4ologie<\/a>,\u00a0Antike Welt <\/em>2, pp. 49-55.<\/p>\n 2024, S. Katsarou, A. Asterios, C. Kakasa, E. Ganiatsou, A. Souleles, L. Winkelbach, J. Blocher, J. Burger, C. Papageorgopoulou, The Late Bronze Age population of the Cave of Lakes, Peloponnese: an anthropological, palaeogenetic and palaeodietary study<\/a>, 8th ARCH_RNT SYMPOSIUM. Archaeological Research & New Technologies. In memoriam Nikolaos Zacharias. 3-5 October 2024 Kalamata, Greece. Special Session: Modern applications in Bioarchaeology<\/em>\u00a0(Organizers: University of the Peloponnese, under the aegis: Hellenic Society for Archaeometry).<\/em><\/p>\n 2024, S. Katsarou, Water in caves: Aspects of social ecology in the Greek Neolithic and the Bronze Age,<\/a> XXth International Aegean Conference, HYDOR: Water Resources and Management in the Aegean Bronze Age, Amsterdam, 12-16 June 2024 (Organizers: Aegaeum Conferences & University of Amsterdam).<\/em><\/p>\n 2024, S. Katsarou, Cave of Lakes-Special Issue,<\/a> Archaeology & Arts <\/em>145 (August 2024), pp. 122-144. [in Greek]<\/span><\/p>\n 2023, S. Katsarou,<\/em><\/strong> Prologue<\/a>. In: S. Eleftheriadou, Using the Past to Build the Future: Archeology and Climate Change<\/em>. Municipality of Kalavrita-Cave of Lakes, pp. 12-25.\u00a0[in Greek]<\/span><\/p>\n 2022, S. Katsarou, Cave of Lakes. A Place of Human Activity in Prehistory<\/em>.<\/a> Site Guide. Kalavrita. Municipal Public Benefit Enterprise of Kalavrita-Cave of Lakes.<\/p>\n 2021, S. Katsarou, The art of carving in prehistoric period.<\/a> In: Engraving. From Prehistory to Present-Day Greece. Exhibition. 29 December 2021-28 February 2022, Athens, School of Fine Arts, Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece. Exhibition Catalogue<\/em>, pp. 13-15.<\/p>\n 2021, S. Katsarou, The dawn of ancient Greek cave cult: Prehistoric cave sanctuaries.<\/a> \u03a3\u03c4\u03bf: S. Katsarou, A. Nagel (eds.), <\/em>Cave and Worship in Ancient Greece. <\/em>New<\/em> Approaches to Landscape and Ritual<\/em>, pp. 17-48. London\/New York. Routledge. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4324\/9781003015765-2<\/a><\/p>\n 1998, A. Sampson, S. Katsarou, Excavation at the cave of Lakes at Kastria, Kalavryta, in the year 1992.<\/a> In: Man and Speleoenvironment. First National Speleological Conference, Athens, 26-29 November 1992, Proceedings, <\/em>pp. 63-68. Athens. Ministry of Culture. Publications of Archaiologikon Deltion 68. [in Greek]<\/span><\/p>\n 1997, S. Katsarou, A. Sampson, Phases I-III. The Neolithic pottery.<\/a> In: A. Sampson, Cave of Lakes at Kastria of Kalavryta. <\/em>\u0391 Prehistoric Site in the Highlands of the Peloponnese<\/em>, pp. 77-273. Athens. Society for Peloponnesian Studies no 7. [in Greek]<\/span><\/p>\n 1997, S. Katsarou, Phases IV-VII. The Bronze Age pottery.<\/a> In: A. Sampson, The Cave of Lakes at Kastria, Kalavryta. A Prehistoric Site in the Highlands of the Peloponnese,<\/em> pp. 275-319. Athens. Society for Peloponnesian Studies 7. [in Greek]<\/span><\/p>\n 1996, A. Sampson, S. Katsarou, Excavations at the Cave of Lakes, at Kastria of Kalavryta, Peloponnese.<\/a> In: E. Alram-Stern, Die \u00c4g\u00e4ische Fr\u00fchzeit. 2. Serie Forschungsbericht<\/em> 1975-1993. 1. Band: Das Neolithikum in Griechenland mit Ausname von Kreta und Zypern, <\/em>pp. 497-506. Wien. \u00d6sterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Philosophisch-Historische Klasse.<\/p>\n
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