Valuable finds have come to light on the hill of Kolona of Aegina during the systematic excavation campaign of 2025.

In a trench opened inside a large stone structure, laying outside the remains of the wall which protected the expansion of the Middle Bronze Age settlement (the so-called “inner suburb”), following objects came to light: eight two-part discoid gold pendants, one also disc-shaped pendant, seven biconical-profile gold beads, one cylindrical bead made from the same metal, eight decorative sheets cut from gold leaf, and seven spherical beads carved in carnelian. All of these pieces probably belong to a single gold neckless or a hanging ornament. They date to the first half of the second millennial BC and are preserved in a fairly good state. Also recovered were twelve copper fragments possibly coming from small tools such as knives, as well as a pin or needle.

Although the soil layers of the find had been disturbed at an unknown time, archaeologists assume that the ornaments were grave goods of a Middle Bronze Age burial. Nevertheless, no evidence of a preserved tomb was found.

The golden jewellery, and especially the pendants, show similarities with some of the ornaments of the so-called “Aegina treasure”. This assemblage, dating to prehistoric times, consists of jewellery made of precious and semiprecious stones, was illegally retrieved and since 1892 has been in the British Museum.

The archaeological site of Kolona is located on the northwestern side of the island, near the harbour and the modern town of Aegina. Though mostly known for the 6th-century Apollo Temple, the hill of Kolona shows evidence of continuous habitation: prehistoric settlement, sanctuary of historical times and acropolis of the ancient city, Byzantine settlement.

The important finds were uncovered during the excavation carried out by the University of Salzburg, in cooperation with the Austrian Archaeological Institute in Athens and directed by Alexander Sokolicek and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Pireaus and Islands. It is obvious that despite years of surveys, the hill has still many more secrets to reveal.