Siris-Project englisch
Duration: since 2025
Funding: Humboldt-Universitäts-Gesellschaft, Erasmus+
Scientific coordinator: Dr. Annarita Doronzio
Team: Daliah Wolff, Ernst Tolksdorff, Maximilian Voit, Vanessa Reisch
Coorporations: Direzione Regionale Musei Nazionali Basilicata,
Museo archeologico nazionale della Siritide, Parco archaeologico di Herakleia
The Siris Project, led by Dr Annarita Doronzio, aims to comprehensively research the ancient Greek settlement of Siris-Herakleia on the southern coast of Italy. It is located on the Gulf of Taranto near the modern town of Policoro. Siris-Herakleia proves to be a particularly suitable case study for the reconstruction of the foundation and development of a Greek colony, both on the basis of the literary tradition and individual archaeological findings. The early phase of settlement is the focus of the project, the first campaign of which will take place from 21 July to 18 August 2025.
Aerial view of park & museum,
Parco archeologico di Herakleia
One area that will be the focus of the first excavation campaign is the spring sanctuary of Siris-Herakleia in the Valle Mediana, which is known in the literature as the sanctuary of Demeter and whose architectural remains mainly date from the Classical/Hellenistic period. However, votive offerings and isolated architectural remains prove that the sanctuary was active until the Archaic period. One of the aims of this year's campaign is to investigate the character of the sanctuary during the Archaic period in more detail.
Another focus of this year's excavations will be the archaic fortifications of Siris, the remains of which have been preserved in several places around the city. In particular, the excavation activities will follow on from an already uncovered area of the fortifications on the southern slope of the northern city hill in order to better understand the course and nature of the early city walls.
