Two ancient fortified settlements were discovered in Nea Karvali, Kavala, northern Greece, during a cleanup by the 18th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities on the outskirts of the municipality.

The first find was the outer side of the ancient wall, with a tower that protects the gate at the southernmost point. It looks as if two fortified towers protected the northern gate, which appears to have been the main entrance of the settlement.

According to the ephorate’s director, Zissis Bonias, the finds back up the supposition that “the Via Egnatia, the great military and commercial artery that connected the western provinces of the Roman Empire with Rome in the second century BC, must have passed by the hill close to the point where the new Egnatia has been built.” Evidenced by sharp-ended amphorae from Thassos and copper coins bearing the image of Macedonian King Cassander (301-297 BC), the original wall dates from the second half of the fourth century BC.

“It seems that during the battles among the successors to Alexander the Great, Cassander fortified this hill in order to secure control of the ancient road,” Bonias said.

Archaeologist Maria Nikolaidou was in charge of the dig that uncovered a fortified seaside settlement in another part of Karvali, dating from the late sixth century to the mid-fourth century BC.