The hill of Kalivo, lies to the east of Butrint and it has a 2km circuit of walls enclosing an area of 18.5 hectares. Despite earlier investigations of the site the dating and the nature of its occupation was unclear. Thus for in July 2004 two small-scale excavations were carried out on Kalivo. The excavations were principally aimed at the recovery of datable material to assist interpretation of the defenses and the low structural remains within the walls.
The recovery of Iron Age pottery from beneath the walls show that they certainly date to after this period, although comparison with Hellenistic walls in Kephallonia and Ithaca suggests that Kalivo’s walls may date from as late as the 4th century BC. Hellenistic material was also recovered from buildings on the acropolis. Post-Hellenistic ceramics found elsewhere on the acropolis, including Roman and medieval wares, suggest that occupation of Kalivo endured in one form or another and the hill remained an important element within the post-Classical countryside around Butrint.