The University of British Columbia has conducted excavations over the last years which brought to light elements attesting the Stymphalians war ability. The discovery of a coin from Carthage and a 2nd century B.C. vessel from Jerusalem adds to the belief that the men of Stymphalia were famous mercenary soldiers. Ruins of an ancient town and its surrounding wall, built according to the Hippodamus Urban Plan System, have been found in the area. Judging from the location of the southern wall of the town and the findings of buildings, the lake was smaller in antiquity. The southern wall of the town contains the Fliountas Gate, a perfect example of defense architecture. The residential area of the town extended to the east and north of the acropolis. The buildings were laid on a grid plan with wide streets. The houses contained an inner courtyard with a well and storage zones. The excavations brought to light the foundation of public buildings and the foundation of a large edifice with a circular wall and a temple in the Agora precinct. Between these building there was a large square construction (33,5 × 30,20 meter), possibly a palaestra, a fountain, exedrae, altars and a theater. The theater at the south side of the acropolis was hewn to the rock, but only a few seats are preserved because of the instability of the rock. The theater skene is one of the few preserved skenes of Peloponnesus. During the first construction phase the skene contained a proscenium. A new proscenium and paraskenia were added during the second phase. The ancient road to the acropolis is the main carriage road connecting the town to the acropolis. The moderate incline enabled the carriages to access the acropolis without much difficulty. Traces of carriage wheels are still visible. The fountain of Stymphalia runs continuously for the last 2500 years. In its initial form it contained two parts, the reservoir, where the water was collected, and a portico. The Hadrianic Aqueduct started from Stymphalia and transferred water to Corinth. Its traces are still visible in the region. On the east shore of Lake Stymphalia lies the tunnel of Siouri, named after an Italian engineer who worked on the enlargement of the Hadrianic tunnel for the irrigation of the Bocha plain. The acropolis of Stymphalia offers a magnificent panoramic view to the surrounding area. The southwest mount Oligyrtos separated Stymphalia and Orchomenos. To the west mount Geronteio – at the present Mavrovouni – separated Stymphalia from Pheneos. To the north, mount Cyllene, the second highest mountain in Peloponnesus, separated Stymphalia from Pellene and Sicyon. The excavations of the acropolis tower brought to light hundreds of iron spearheads that date back to the siege of Stymphalos by the romans in mid-2nd century B.C.