Agora Excavations, 1931-2006

In 2006, the American School of Classical Studies at Athens celebrated 75 years of archaeological work in the Athenian Agora, the civic centre of classical Athens. Since the first trench was dug on May 25, 1931, excavations have continued in a series of yearly campaigns, only briefly interrupted by World War II. The impact these discoveries have made on our understanding of Athenian history and topography is well documented, but relatively little has been published about the fascinating history of the excavations themselves. This book fills that gap, presenting a pictorial history of the project illustrated with many archival photographs and primary documents. Rather than presenting a continuous narrative, the author focuses on some key moments in the Agora's history including the reconstruction of the Stoa of Attalos, the restoration of the Church of the Holy Apostles, and the landscaping of the archaeological park.