The Pyrgos Dirou cave system, located on the western shores of the peninsula of Laconia, incorporates the famous caverns Alepotrypa and Vlychada, both explored by speleologists Ioannis & Anna Petrochilos. In the course of the late Neolithic period (4000 - 3000 BC), the cave was extensively used as shelter, dwelling, workshop, storage place for goods, cemetery and a place of worship. The richness and quality of the unearthed findings bear witness to the existence of a populous society in Alepotrypa, which developed over time into an important centre that engaged largely in trade, maritime travel, farming and stockbreeding. Strangely enough, human skeletons were found on the surface, meaning that entombment had not taken place. This led archaeologists to the conclusion that these Neolithic people died suddenly during a strong earthquake, which in turn generated huge rockslides from the ceiling, thus blocking the cave's entrance. The passageways of Alepotrypa, decorated with stalagmites and stalactites, measure 500 m in length. The cave covers an area of 6,500 square meters. The central cave ends into a very beautiful lake with a maximum depth of 6 m. The cave is not open to the public, yet.