Agios Vasileios, Laconia

Agios Vasileios is the site of a Mycenaean palace, located 4 kilometers east of the village of Xirokambi in Laconia [1]. It was west of the Eurotas River commanding the plain, some 10 km south of Sparta [1]. Ayios Vasileios was lightly inhabited during the Early Helladic I–II period (c. 3200-2200 BC) then abandoned for a time [1]. It was re-occupied in the Middle Helladic III period (c. 1700–1550 BC), again lightly [1]. The site grew in the Late Helladic period (c. 1550–1050 BC) reaching a maximum size of about 20 hectares before facing destruction and abandonment [1]. Excavations, carried out by the Archaeological Society of Athens and directed by archaeologist Adamantia Vasilogamvrou, began in 2009 [1].