The excavation was funded by UCLA with additional support from the National Science Foundation, the Samuel H. Kress foundation and American INVS-Co. 40 american, greek and international students and scholars participated in the excavations, that proceeded in the months of August and September 1973 and 1974.[2]
The site was investigaed through four trenches on the mound, supplemented by additional test trenches in the surrounding area. Its chronology has been divided into four phases with further subdivisions, based on gradual changes in architectural and ceramic styles. It covers the complete Sesklo sequence.[3] The well-preserved material culture of Achilleion includes all find categories typical of Early Neolithic sites in Thessaly, such as pottery, bone tools, personal ornaments, and both ground and chipped stone tools. Particularly noteworthy is the large number of figurines. Specialised studies provided insights into archaobotany, dendrochronology and zooarchaeology.[1]
One reviewer complained that “no geologic, geomorphologic, sedimentologic, or pedologic study was carried out – a serious failing”.[4]
Excavations of the site ended before completion after only two excavation seasons. Gimbutas attributed the sudden halt of excavations to the political unrest caused by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in July 1974.[2]
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