RESEARCHERS from Bournemouth have been helping to explore the 2,500-year-old ruins of an ancient Greek city.

The team from Bournemouth University (BU) and other archaeologists from the University of Gothenberg in Sweden have been exploring the ruins near the modern village of Vlochos, situated around 300km north of Athens, as part of The Vlochós Archaeological Project.

The ruins, located below a hill called Strongilovoúni, have not previously been systematically explored in great detail, and the team have used non-invasive archaeological techniques to find out more about the layout and scale of the city.

BU lecturer in archaeology Derek Pitman was among those out in Greece exploring and analysing the site.

"Bournemouth have played an important role in the project," he said.

"We brought geophysical and survey equipment including our photography drone.

"It allowed us to view the site like never before, producing 3D maps of the fortifications and a detailed plan of the underground features.

"The exceptional imagery has helped understand the extent of the city including the identification of possible private and public areas as well as industrial quarters.

"Coupled with the expertise from Sweden and Greece the results have given us significant insight into the layout of Vlochos and a window into the lives of those that lived there."

Alongside the remains of towers, walls and city gates, the team uncovered ancient coins and pottery dating to 250 BC during the first round of fieldwork in September, which are now being studied in Karditsa.

They plan to return in August 2017 for further investigations of the site.

The project is a collaboration between the Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa and the Swedish Institute at Athens. To find out more visit www.vlap.se.