A cache of ancient artifacts found in a storage space in central Athens earlier this year are dated from the Geometric (1100-750 BC) era to the Hellenistic one (up to 31 BC), the Culture Ministry said on Tuesday.

The cache was found in February 2024 in a ground-floor storage space accessible through a trapdoor at a store on 33 Stadiou and 3 Pesmazoglou Streets. The store belonged to the Alexandros Soutsos trust fund and is now managed by the National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum. The store had been vacated by its renters following a court order.

According to the Culture Ministry statement, the objects were then found by the Gallery representative, who notified the ministry, which in turn called in archaeologists from its documentation department and the Numismatic Museum. They documented 102 ancient Geometric-era objects (including various vessels and statuettes), 36 religious objects related to post-Byzantine eras (including icons and a staff of a high-ranking priest), and 3,247 coins, medals, seal stones, weights, and lead stamps dated from ancient to modern times.

1940s newspapers

The artifacts were packed in old carton boxes and some were wrapped in newspapers dated to the 1940s, when the store was first leased as a store selling jewellery, watches, and art objects. Following their discovery they were transferred to storage spaces until the the relevant prosecutors complete their investigation. Once they go through conservation, the findings will be examined in detail by a scientific committee that will assess their value.

Commenting on the case, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni said that beyond the repatriation of cultural goods exported illegally from Greece, "there are also the cases of illegal acquisition of goods domestically. One of those cases was identified in the heart of Athens." She added that "the documentation and study of every new cultural artifact found is of great importance in preserving our future and understanding ancient communities."