Land excavations

Land excavations

The university excavation at the “Vryokastro” site in Kythnos began in 2002 and continues until today. It was preceded by systematic surface research in the years 1990-1995 and 2001. The position coincides with the ancient city of “Kythnos” of the homonym island of the Cyclades, which was inhabited since the 10th century. B.C. up to the 6th-7th c. A.D.

The academic excavations to date, carried out in collaboration with the KA “Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities”, have brought to light an unspoiled sanctuary of Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic times.

The sanctuary was excavated from 2002-2006. The twin temple was intact, with all the precious oblations in place. Two altars were excavated south of the temple as well as an extensive “depositor” that also contained hundreds of valuable oblations.

Since 2009, excavations have resumed. West of the sanctuary, a monumental retaining wall has been excavated and a little lower of it, a public building of the classical period.

The head of the research team of the university is Professor Alexandros Mazarakis Ainian. KA ‘Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs is represented by the archaeologist Vasiliki Giannouli, responsible for the antiquities of Kythnos.

Marine research

At the same time, from 2005 to the present day, with the collaboration of the Ephorate of Old Antiquities, underwater research and excavation has been taking place in the bay of Mandraki, the ancient port of Vryokastro. The entire port and the buildings found both on the coast and on the sea floor were imprinted and in 2007 the excavation of one of them which is possibly identified with part of the precipitated coastal fortification wall, began. The 2008-2009 excavation brought to light important marble sculptures of the Roman period.

The excavation is carried out by the Department of Archeology of the Department of History, Archeology and Social Anthropology (IAKA) of the University of Thessaly, with the collaboration of the Ephorate of Antique Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture. The head of the research team of the university is Professor Alexandros Mazarakis Ainian. The director of the Underwater Excavation of the Ephorate of Marine Antiquities is Dr. Dimitris Kourkoumelis.

Excavation Findings in Kythnos