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Modern Description: "(From Phrouria Lokrika by Emil Nankov, 2009) ""The site of Alope is identified with the ancient settlement located just east of the small village of Ayia Aikaterini. A small hill (80 masl) juts out towards the sea, the foot of which is traversed by the National Road Thessalonike-Athens. Here the distance between the mountain and the sea narrows. The hill (80 masl) is steep on all sides, except on the south, where it is connected to the ridge by a saddle. It affords extensive views over the plain of Longos to the northwest and the promontory of Arkitsa to the northeast
The flat-topped hill (165 x 70 m) is commonly identified with the acropolis of ancient Alope on the basis of Strabo (9. 4. 3). Gell (1819, 233), Pouqueville (1826, 156) and Lolling (1989, 307) visited the site and first suggested the identification with Alope, which is now commonly accepted. Field observations have confirmed the presence of material remains on the surface, e.g. traces of the circuit wall with stretches of polygonal and ashlar masonry, and a scatter of many sherds and tiles, suggesting continuous habitation from the early Bronze Age until late Roman period (Fossey 1990, 92). At several places deep trenches have recently been opened up illicitly. These have exposed what appears to be an architectural structure within the circuit, now reduced to a pile of rubble....
During 1995-1997, in the course of construction of an asphalt road on the south side of the National Road, and approximately 500 m northwest of the acropolis proper, the Greek Archaeological Service exposed a good portion of what is thought to have been the lower city. The salvage excavation revealed the presence of a residential quarter enclosed by the northeast corner of its newly built ashlar fortifications dated to the early Hellenistic period (Bouyia 2000a, 51-53; 2002, 29-32). 84, 20 m. of the north and 17 m. of the east fortification walls were exposed. A city gate (3 m. wide) interrupts the north wall at its westernmost end. In addition, 500 m northeast of the acropolis, 27 graves were excavated dating from the Archaic to late Hellenistic-early Roman period (Bouyia 2002, 32-34; 2006, 83-102; Dakoronia 2003, 437-440). At the same location, during the Late Roman period a building, possibly a villa, was erected, which is arguably associated with the early Christian basilica situated ca. 30 m. to the northeast. Furthermore, Bouyia (2002, 30) reported several late Roman graves and a built tomb located on top of, and next to, the north fortification wall, a clear indication that by this time the lower city had been abandoned. The ample use of spolia, i.e. conglomerate blocks probably taken from the Hellenistic fortification walls, for the construction of the basilica and its associated building further supports this. ...
The search of the circuit wall on the acropolis is especially unrewarding on account of the heavy vegetation covering the remains (Fig. 3.2). At certain places along the edge of the hill, a few small stretches of polygonal and ashlar walling mark the course of what most certainly was a fortified enclosure. Upon his visit to the site, Lolling was able to observe only the latter, since he concluded that the entire circuit was constructed of ashlar masonry. He most certainly saw the stretches located on the south and the southeast side of the circuit, as did indeed Fossey (1990, 91). 258 This stretch is built on a slope, with the earth exerting considerable pressure upon its inner face. In addition to exposure to the elements, this is also a contributing factor for the current dilapidation of this section of the circuit.
The wall was built with ashlar blocks of reddish conglomerate of varying dimensions.259 The surface treatment of the blocks reveals traces of tooled work, whereas the joints show no attempt towards producing beveled edges and drafted margins (Fig. 3.3). The level surface on top gives the appearance of a stone socle that probably served to support mudbrick superstructure. ...""
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alope_(Opuntian_Locris)
Wikidata ID: Q16482781
Trismegistos Geo: 33375
Manto: 9719933"

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