The Restoration of the Archaeological

and Broader Landscape of Olympia

By Dr. Zoe Kosmidou
ANCIENT OLYMPIA
THE DAY AFTER
THE DAY AFTER aerial view
Kronios hill
the Day after
Pierre de Coubertin Memorial

The Day After

 overview of the site recovery
Immediate response and recovery of the
ancient site of Olympia and its
surrounding area due to the upcoming
rainfalls and the Olympic Flame
ceremony.
Main aim was to restore landscape after
destructive fires with immediate
measures and interventions to protect
soil against erosion and floods.
 the challenges and the media

Major challenge: Restoration of forest area

of Olympia characterized as “national goal”
because of strict timetable imposed by
Olympic Flame ceremony for 2008 Beijing
Olympic Games.
Wildfires took place on August 26, 2007.
Olympic Flame ceremony March 24th,
2008.
 WORLD MEDIA FOCUSED ON OLYMPIA
REUTERS
“Greek fires kill 60 but
spare ancient Olympia
ruins”
By Vassilis
Triandafyllou
August 26, 2007
• Firefighters
saved the temples and
stadiums of ancient
Olympia…three-day
inferno.
• “With self-
sacrifice, firefighters
fought ‘trench battles’
to rescue these
sensitive and
important sites,”
• “Fire scorched
the yard of the
museum at Olympia,
housing famous
classical sculptures
such as Praxiteles’
Hermes, but planes ,
helicopters and scores
of firefighters beat it
back.”
NPR
“Greek Wildires Threaten Ancient Olympia” “Greek Fires
August 26, 2007
• The fire was treacherous but the museum Reach Ancient
was safe.
• Wildfires raged for 3 days, 57 killed. Olympics Site”
• Authorities evacuated hundreds of people,
by every means (land and sea).
By John F.L. Ross
• “At least 12 countries were sending August 26, 2007
reinforcements, and six water-dropping planes
from France and Italy joined operations Sunday”
• 3 days of fires fought
• The worst affected region was Zaharo, by firefighters to stop
south of Ancient Olympia.
wildfires from burning
2,800 year old ruins.
• The forests around
National Geographic Text burned but Ancient
“Greek Wildfire Recovery Could Take Decades” Olympia ruins saved.
October 3, 2007 • “Nearly 4,000 soldiers,
• More than 670,000 acres of farmland, homes and
protected forests burned- from the European Forest Fire
backed by military
helicopters, were sent to
Information System reports= 5% of the whole country
said Constantinos Liarkos, conservation manager with reinforce firefighters over
the WWF in Athens.
the past three days, and at
least 12 countries were
sending aid.”
 Restoration Objectives

Re-establish the ancient oak

forest based on references
from Xenophon,
Theophrastus and Pausanias.

Introduction of long-scale
broad-leave species.

Local replacement of Aleppo

pine forest with mixed forest
for fire prevention.
 RESTORATION MEASURES
Soil erosion and flood mitigation measures
Removal of burned plants and trees.

Log erosion barriers constructed from trunk of

burned Aleppo pine and cypress trees and were
fixed parallel to the contours of the slopes of the
hills.

This particular wood considered the appropriate

material for the fulfillment of archaeological,
historical, aesthetic, ecological, environmental and
protective requirements of area.
clearing the burned area
 LOG EROSION BARRIERS

Stadium view from the top of Kronios hill, treated by single log erosion
barriers (September, 2007)
Gully and small stream channel checkdams
• Previously severe erosion and landslides occurred
forming a number of gully and small stream
channels in the hills of the area.

Particular sites could not be protected from further

deterioration by log barriers

Wood-made checkdams were selected for the

same reasons concerning the log barriers.
• Gully and small stream channel check dams
RESTORATION MEASURES con’t

Post fire natural regeneration

Mediterranean pine forests are well distinguished

from other ecosystems: considerable hosted plant
and animal biodiversity, differing climate conditions
and adaptation to wildfire.
After the onset of the first post-fire rainy season
(November 2007), the Aleppo pine post-fire
regeneration was very satisfactory.
Alepo pine post-fire naturally regenerated
seedlings (February 2009)
 Revegetation by
hydroseeding
Direct aesthetic result

Complimentary to other soil erosion

prevention measures.

Where slope was particularly steep, a

geotextile jute, was used to cover soil
before application of hydroseeding. Jute
used made 100% from plant materials
and is biodegradable in 4 years time.

Double role: retains and protects surface

of soil and provides favorable micro-
environment for plants
Jute and first vegetation
Jute placement on Kronos Hill
Jute placement in the Western slope of Kronos Hill
PLANTING BIG TREES
PLANTING BIG TREES
“National Goal”
Before and After
 Monitoring and Maintenance

Network of plots installed to monitor and

investigate:
- meteorological conditions (rainfall and temperature)
- effectiveness of specific design of log erosion
barriers
- post-fire regeneration of Aleppo pine
- estimation of plant establishment (survival and
growth).

•Additional planting is provided for autumn 2009.

•Management flammable biomass has been removed
to prevent new fires.
 Conclusions and Recommendations

• Applied treatments effectiveness rated from

“excellent” to “poor”:
contour-felled logs rated “excellent” or “good” in 70% of the
measurements,

hydroseeding rated 60% “excellent”

jute technique rated 60% “good” or “fair” (due to application on

particularly steep slopes)

According to the measurements none of the treatments was

considered “poor.”
Conclusions and Recommendations cont’

Two months after the fire the area was

filled with wild flowers and the natural
regeneration of Aleppo pine.

• Natural regeneration of evergreen broad-

leave trees was highly satisfactory.

• Projected success rate of regeneration

project is over 95%.
 Conclusions and Recommendations con’t

Further objective should minimize any damage caused

by potential fires, which are a natural occurrence in
Mediterranean climates.

Future general management should:

• - strive to be continuous and moderate, without irreversible
changes to the natural and cultural environment.

• - maintain landscape complexity and diversity by conserving the

abundance of ecological and cultural landscape units.

• - respect local styles in constructing new structures, taking into

consideration natural and anthropogenic environment surrounding
archaeological site and historical references.
Pierre de Coubertin Memorial

• After the planting

The Olympia Museum area after the revegetation
 Olympic flame
ceremony 2008
Spring 2008