The excavation research of the archaeologist Xeni Arapogianni during the years 2010-2011 in the mountainous site of Petroula, north of Ano Melpeia, brought to light part of a peripteral temple. It is located at an altitude of 1070 m, near the border of Messenia and Arcadia and has a prominent view of the temple of Apollo Epicurius to the northwest. The temple had a stone-built cella, a superstructure of raw bricks and timber and a tiled roof, while numerous architectural elements were found in the surrounding area. Much of the temple seems to have been destroyed during the construction of the chapel of Prophet Elias, of which the foundation remains are preserved.

According to the excavation finds, the sanctuary was mainly used during the end of the 6th and the beginning of the 5th century BC, when this border area was under the rule of Sparta. However, it is possible that another smaller structure was erected in the 3rd/2nd century BC, which has not yet been identified and which may have belonged to the upgraded Messenian sanctuary after the creation of the independent Messenian state in 369 BC. Votive offerings to the sanctuary included miniature vases, bronze plates, jewellery, iron spearheads and knives and a bronze statuette of a naked man, perhaps holding a spear. Most of them suggest the warlike character of the worshipped deity. The area is probably identified with the Messenian Derai, where a major battle between Messenians and Spartans took place. The temple may have been dedicated to Artemis Dereatis/Eleia or Apollo.