In the summer of 2023, a team of student researchers accompanied Carleton Classics Professor Jake Morton and University of Pennsylvania Professor Emerita of Classical Studies Cynthia Damon to the mountainous North Central Tzoumerka region of Greece. They searched for evidence of the ancient Athamanian people, who lived deep within the rugged mountains. Through topographical survey, the team explored the ancient and modern evidence, working to understand Athamanian identity. Despite the many impressive sites, the topic is under-researched beyond the scope of regional publication.
Nahome Lantyderu ‘26 explains that “especially as a first-year, this opportunity excited me for its field research and traveling aspects. My favorite part was finding ancient sites that authors like Polybius and Livy reference. Standing among the ruins and exploring sites like Argatheia and Gomphi made the strenuous hikes worth it. We also went to local museums to understand ancient relics in relation to the Athamanian people.”
Emery John ‘24 appreciates “how much we were able to learn through the land itself. We, along with the ancient fortress builders, weary shepherds, and invading soldiers, saw the same mountains; they haven’t moved. Through modern data and first hand observation, we worked through some of our ancient unknowns. Are the current roads along the same routes as those in reports from antiquity? Are the ancient forts near these mountain passes? We payed attention to how people still live off the land. The more cowbells we heard the more we wondered if the ancient Athamanians, too, favored herds of cattle alongside their flocks of sheep. One Ottoman stone paved road led us to a hilltop fortress dating to antiquity, which bore scars of use from both the Balkan and World Wars.
Our approach assumes that ancient people, just like the modern, are thoughtful designers of where and why their build their lives, economies, and defenses. From stone walls to loom weights to forged weaponry, we looked for glimpses of these lives, existing otherwise across just a few lines of written record. By following similarities through centuries, we found the Athamanians in their mountains, on their terms, as best we could.”
Charlie Solomon ‘25 explains that the “trip empowered us to pursue our own research projects. As an (occasional) metalsmith with a magpie-like interest in shiny objects, I honed in on metals/metalworking in Athemania and the surrounding regions – focusing on forged metal tools and precious metal coinage. Having my own research topic underpinned my travels which helped me better engage with the sites and museums we visited.” John searched for how
“modern shepherding paired with the ancient abundance of loom weights and spinning equipment spoke to a mountain industry. Several museums specifically argued for the regional surplus of wool products, pointing to meaningful trade potential with surrounding regions, of whom the Athamanians were dependent on for wheat and winter shelter.” Lantyderu focused on the burial practices of the Athamanians by drawing comparisons between them and their contemporaries, the Ambracians. “Visiting museums as well as doing fieldwork allowed me to draw strong similarities, like their shared emphasis on grave goods. Items including clay vessels, coins, metal objects, and personal belongings would accompany the dead from both cultures into the afterlife.”
Solomon concludes that the “hands-on experience of archaeology in the actual mountains and valleys of Athamania clarified how original research in history and archaeology is conducted.” For Lantyderu, the “collaboration with [his] peers and professors” taught him “a lot about teamwork. I am grateful for both the teamwork and the research experience!”
Photo taken by Cynthia Damon.