Historical Monuments

The wider area of ​​the National Park exhibits great archaeological interest, as archaeological sites have been recorded in high density dating back to the prehistoric era up to the post-Byzantine era. In Kornofolia, there is a low hillside which amphitheatrically yields a spectacular view to the great river, where many carvings and cavities have been found. In the south of the village, in the fields, numerous ceramics and plenty of coins from Hellenistic and Roman times have been discovered.

On the top of AdaTepe the foundations of a stone-built fortress with five semicircular towers have been found. Moreover, on the top of Gibrena there are the ruins of a Byzantine castle built by Emperor Justinian. The castle was part of a series of fortifications carried out in such sites, which were intended to prevent the descent of invaders from the south.

In the west of the settlement Lykofi, at the site of Anavra, three marble Roman sarcophagi have been discovered, as well as a carved rock, which according to tradition hosted a Byzantine church. In Lagyna, a stone-built tomb with semicircular arch, of Macedonian type has been discovered, dating back to the 4th century BC.

In the valley of Dadia, the existence of an ancient settlement whose has been confirmed by the plenty of ancient coins, figurines and pottery found during the regularization of the river, while in Trani Petra, located about 1 km north from the settlement of Dadia, an ancient temple is presumed to have existed.

For more information, you may refer to the report of Dr. Athanasios Gouridis entitled “The Past as the Future” which was written in the context of INTERREG III Program “Historical Topography of the Area of the Municipality of Soufli and Local Development” as well as to the webpage of the archaeologist Mr. Stavors Kiotsekoglou.