Guide of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace

In the locations of Krovyli and Petrota, between Ismaros and Skylorema, the archaeological research revealed open establishments that, according to the stone tools found in the area, date to the Paleolithic Age.

In addition, a prehistoric settlement probably dating from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Ages (6th – 3rd millennium BC) was traced north of the modern village of Petrota.

Apart from the numerous prehistoric finds, Roman pottery was also found in the surrounding area of the villages of Askites and Petrota. Several types of burials were unearthed too, some of which date to the Early Christian times.

A group of rock-cut tombs above ground shows similarities with the type of rock-cut Mycenaean tombs. One of them has the shape of a semicircular niche with a rock-cut bench and a four-sided basin lower in the ground. To the left of the entrance, there is a big arched niche and, on the roof, there are many small cavities that mainly form circles. These circles have a cavity in the center and several more on the periphery of the circles. Niches of various dimensions were found exteriorly, on the southern side of the entrance and on the western side.

There is another rock-cut tomb situated almost in the middle of a large rock. It consists of a rectangular room and of two successive big niches – chambers that lie in different layers. The tomb seems to have served as a small church during the Turkish rule and that explains why this location is known after the name Klisatjik.

The third tomb has the shape of a low semicircular niche, while the forth one is the biggest amongst all. This tomb is also semicircular in shape and bears three niches on the walls. Similar tombs were found in Bulgaria and in some areas of Eastern Rodopi.

In the past, according to tradition, a church dedicated to St George had existed north of the village.