The Melitaia Archaeological Programme (MELAP) is a co-operation between the Ephoreia of Antiquities of Phthiotida and Evrytania and the Finnish Institute at Athens.
Photike is located in the northern part of the Kokytos valley, close to modern Paramythia in Thesprotia. It was a Roman colonial town, probably founded during the reign of Augustus, which later developed into a Medieval episcopal see. Our knowledge of Photike has until now been based on Roman inscriptions and some partly excavated churches dating to the Early Christian and Middle Byzantine periods.
Agia Paraskevi of Arachamitai is a site located at the highest point of the pass leading from Asea to Arachamitai in Arcadia – more specifically, roughly between Tripolis and Megalopolis. Preliminary archaeological work, including magnetometer prospecting and opening of trial trenches, was conducted by the Finnish Institute at Athens at the site between 2006 and 2008 under the directorship of Björn Forsén.