Sesklo Archaeological Site

Address: Sesklo archaeological site, near Volos, Thessaly, Greece

Sesklo is a Neolithic tell and archaeological site in Thessaly, Greece, that lends its name to the early farming ‘Sesklo culture.’ The site contains some of the earliest settled domestic architecture in mainland Greece, with occupation beginning in the sixth millennium BCE.

Excavations in the 19th and 20th centuries established the sequence of occupation and identified a local cultural assemblage now termed the Sesklo culture, dating from roughly the sixth to the fifth millennia BCE. The site documents transitions in prehistoric farming communities in Thessaly.

The tell sits near the modern village of Sesklo in the Thessaly region of central Greece, close to the city of Volos and set within the agricultural plain of the Pagasetic Gulf.

• Cultural significance: Gave its name to the ‘Sesklo culture’, one of the defining Neolithic cultural phases in Thessaly and mainland Greece.
• Where to see artifacts: Many finds from excavations are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Volos, which provides context for the site’s Neolithic occupation.

Sesklo is about 12-15 km northeast of Volos. Drive or take local transport toward the village of Sesklo; the site is signposted on minor roads off the main coastal route.

• Visit the archaeological museum in nearby Volos for finds and context before heading to the Sesklo site.
• The tell is compact - bring a hat for the exposed summit area and a camera for the panoramic views over the Pagasetic Gulf.