George Hourmouziadis facts for kids

George Hourmouziadis (Greek: Γιώργος Χουρμουζιάδης) was a famous Greek archaeologist. He was born on November 26, 1932, and passed away on October 16, 2013. He was also a professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. A professor emeritus means he was a retired professor who kept his title.

George Hourmouziadis spent his life exploring ancient sites. He led many important digs in Greece. These excavations helped us learn a lot about how people lived thousands of years ago.

Discovering Ancient Greece

Digging Up History

George Hourmouziadis led many important archaeological digs. He worked in areas like Thessaly and Macedonia in Greece. He helped uncover prehistoric settlements. These are places where people lived before written history.

One of his most famous discoveries began in 1992. This was at a Neolithic lakeside village called Dispilio. It is located in Kastoria, in northwestern Greece. A Neolithic village means it was from the New Stone Age. This period was about 7,000 to 10,000 years ago.

Amazing Finds at Dispilio

At Dispilio, archaeologists found many exciting things! They discovered ancient pottery and parts of old buildings. They also found seeds and animal bones. These items tell us about the food people ate. They also found small statues called figurines. These might have been used for art or religious purposes.

They also found personal ornaments, like jewelry. Three flutes were also discovered. These flutes are thought to be the oldest musical instruments in Europe! One of the most important finds was the Dispilio Tablet. This wooden tablet has strange markings on it. Scientists are still trying to understand what these markings mean.

Sharing Discoveries

The discovery of the wooden tablet was announced in 1994. This happened at a special meeting at the University of Thessaloniki. George Hourmouziadis also shared information about the site. He wrote about the ancient environment and how people fished. He also described the tools and pottery they used. This information was published in a Greek archaeology magazine.

Books by George Hourmouziadis

George Hourmouziadis wrote many books. These books shared his knowledge about ancient Greece. They helped other archaeologists and students learn from his work. Here are a few of his important books:

• Neolithic Figurines (1973)
• Neolithic Dimini (1979)
• Dispilio, Kastoria a Prehistoric Lakeside Settlement (1996)
• Dispilio, 7500 Years After (2002)

His books help us understand the past. They show us how people lived in ancient times.