Berbati Valley

The Berbati Valley is an archaeological site located in the northeast of the Peloponnese, northeast of Argos [1]. The Swedish Institute at Athens started with archaeological excavations on the site in 1935, under supervision of Axel W. Persson [1]. In 1936, Persson and Åke Åkerström explored the eastern slopes of the Mastos Hill and found what would later be called the Potter's Quarters [1]. Säflund investigated the Western Necropolis northwest of the Mastos Hill [1]. In 1937 he also excavated part of an Early Helladic settlement that continued into the Middle Helladic period [1]. The earliest remains in the Berbati and Limnes valleys date from the Middle Palaeolithic (around 100.000–35.000 BCE) period, with a limited number of flaked stone tools suggesting frequent human visits over a long period of time [1]. During the Upper Palaeolithic (around 30.000–11.000 BCE) a decline in material is noticeable [1].