Following the discovery of ancient ruins at the rowing and canoe-kayak venues at Schinias for the 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games, work on the venues have been interrupted.
Preliminary expert reports show the remains are probably a settlement dating back to 2000-2600 B.C.
During a visit to the site, Greek conservative opposition leader Costas Caramanlis called for its immediate protection.
He said, “Marathon is a monument of world cultural heritage. I remind you that here at Marathon the government advanced work despite the opposition of archeologists, historians…and it is urgent that archeological services protect these finds”.
Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said, “I’ve asked that the archeological inquiry be completed and I’m awaiting on all the documents to decide what should be done”.
The Minister pointed out that last year the government switched the canoe-kayak slalom event from Marathon to Hellinikon south of Athens, to protect a site of historic importance, where the battle of Marathon was fought in 490 B.C.
