Archaeological Site of Samiko Acropolis

The archaeological site of Kato Samiko, as mentioned, includes the prehistoric acropolis located on the hill “Klidi”, possibly identified with the Homeric Ariene, as well as an acropolis of historical times lying to the east, on the western parapets of Mount Lapitha and, according to archaeological sources , probably belonged to a town named Samia or Samikon or Samos. It is strategically positioned as it dominates the fertile plain of Samika and dominates the road that united Pisatida with Triphylia and western Messinia in antiquity. The prehistoric acropolis occupies the rocky Hill of the Klidion that controls the land and sea movements from north to south. It was surrounded by cyclopean walls, while within it were found shells of vessels from the Middle Helladic-Late Helladic period, as well as the remains of a Mycenaean building that are not preserved today. The cyclopean wall extends to the hill of the opposite hill, up to the classical acropolis of Samiko, where there must be a prehistoric settlement or a tower-point that served the fortified position of the Klidion. Several burials have been excavated in the northeast of Klidion, which gave important findings from the late Middle Helladic to the late Mycenaean times. On the eastern foothills of the hill there is an extensive cemetery of the late Middle Helladic period with box-like graves and a vault covered with mounds.