The Neolithic Settlement of Nea Nikomedeia is located 13 kilometers away from the city of Veria and 2 kilometers from the contemporary village of Nea Nikomedeia. It is considered as on the oldest neolithic settlements in Europe and according to the experts, it dates from 6250-6050 BC.
The settlement was excavated in three phases by R.J. Rodden and his team in 1961, 1963 and 1963. It had approximately 500 to 700 inhabitants while it was probably founded very close to a shore of a lagoon or next to the coast of Thermaikos gulf, that was reaching this spot in the past. The location of the settlement was providing a guaranty for food resources due to the fertile soil, the rich hunting and the access to plenty of fish.
The prehistoric Nea Nikomedeia covered an area of 1.690 square meters which included square houses of 12 meters. The houses were made out of wood and among the findings, there are bone tools, adornment seals, flint blades, clay figurines, and pendants. Some other very important excavation findings include the clay sculptures of plump women with phallic heads and folded arms as well as large vessels with a capacity of approximately 85 liters.
The archeologists agree that the settlement was abandoned due to a flood, a fire, or a conquest by other people that forced the inhabitants to move to another area. But during a later period the Newer Neolithic Age, the settlement is resettled.
Unfortunately, regardless of the historical value of the archaeological site the area is still not visitable, while the majority of the findings are not housed in a museum. Everyone hopes that the local authorities will manage to handle and promote this unique site.