During a rescue excavation alongside the railroad tracks, archaeologists of the Greek Archaeological Service discovered a number of artifacts showing the existence of a sanctuary dating to the archaic period.
Items recovered include bronze vases, objects of lead and clay, weapons, iron tools, and figurines.
One important artifact is a bronze phiale (described as "navel-shaped") in excellent condition with the inscription "Tilephilos dedicated me to Herakles" in the archaic Greek alphabet.
The phiale had been found several years before its value was recognized when a natural gas pipeline was built near the hill of Spartia by the Volos-Velestinos-Larissa highway (on the site of the ancient Pherae-Pagasses road).
Put in storage by the XIII Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of the Ministry for Culture, the object was rediscovered when it was cleaned during conservation work.