Acropolis of Geronthrai

High on its hill in Laconia, the Acropolis of Geronthrai, known today as Geraki, is a partially preserved citadel whose story stretches across an extraordinary span of time. Its periods of use run from the Archaic and Classical eras through Hellenistic, Roman, and even twentieth-century occupation, so the site reads like a palimpsest of Greek history. Excavations between 1975 and 2014 revealed evidence of a Middle Helladic settlement, while survey and excavation on the acropolis since 1995 have added steadily to the picture. Small finds recovered within the castle and its surrounding settlement continue to deepen our understanding of this layered place.