The Mycenaean settlement at Ayios Vasileios is located in the southern part of the plain of Sparta, on the west bank of the river Eurotas, at “spacious Lacedaemon” (εὐρύχορον Λακεδαίμονα) as the region is characterized in the Odyssey (book 13, card 414). The settlement occupies a low chain of hills, interrupted by the current National Road Sparta-Gythion, at the junction to the neighboring village Xirokambi and is about twelve kilometers from Sparta. The name derives from the late Byzantine church of Ayios Vasileios that crowns the top of the first hill to the west of the National road. From there one can see the entire valley and other important Mycenaean sites in Laconia, such as Palaiopyrgi and the Menelaion. Nearby are other prehistoric/Mycenaean sites, for example the vaulted tomb of Vaphio, Amykles, Anthohori, Ayios Georgios and Vouno Panagias.
In 2008 during a field evaluation along the south-western edge of the chain of hills of Ayios Vasileios, approximately 300 m. from the church, a thick archaeological layer was revealed. This contained Late Helladic pottery and a fragmentary Linear B tablet, the first ever found in Laconia. In response of this significant find, the Archaeological Service excavated a series of trial trenches, resulting in the discovery of a chamber tomb of Late Helladic I-II. At the same time, an extensive survey across the hills was carried out, during which two further fragments of Linear B tablets were found nearby the church. In 2009, three additional trial trenches (I, II, III) were opened with particularly encouraging results, revealing important architectural remains of the Mycenaean period.
In particular, in trial trench II (Sector III) were discovered architectural remains which had been used, after their abandonment in the fourteenth century B.C., for the discard of Late Helladic IIIA pottery as well as building materials from alterations or repairs of other structures. Among this material were two further fragments of Linear B tablets as well as large quantities of high quality fresco fragments depicting scenes including winged griffins, animals, humans and geometric motifs, amongst others. Similar frescoes have been found in the palace of Pylos.
In 2010 a systematic archaeological research programme was begun at the site, under the direction of the current Director Emerita of Antiquities, Adamantia Vasilogamvrou, under the auspices of the Archaeological Society at Athens. Systematic excavations in Sector III were carried out from 2011 until September 2021.