Akrotiri (prehistoric city)

Akrotiri is an ancient settlement from the Bronze Age on the Greek island of Santorini. People lived there long ago, but the place was destroyed by a big volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC. The eruption covered many things in ash, which helped keep them safe until today.

One of the most exciting things found at Akrotiri are beautiful wall paintings called frescoes. These paintings show us what life was like for the people who lived there thousands of years ago. Scientists first started digging at the site in 1967, and they are still learning more about this amazing place.

Even though we don’t know the real name the people of Akrotiri used for their home, the place is named after a nearby village called Akrotiri. It is very important for learning about the ancient Cycladic culture.

History

Akrotiri began as a small fishing and farming village a very long time ago, around the fifth millennium BCE. Over time, it grew into a larger and more important place. It became a key spot for trading, especially with other cultures around the Aegean Sea. The town was well-planned, with paved streets and good drainage systems. People there made fine pottery and other crafts.

Then, around the 16th century BCE, a big volcanic eruption changed everything. The eruption buried Akrotiri in ash, but this also helped protect many of its beautiful wall paintings, called frescoes, for us to see today. Scientists use different methods to guess when exactly this eruption happened.

Excavations

Akrotiri was buried by a huge Theran eruption in the middle of the second millennium BCE (during the Late Minoan IA period). Like the Roman ruins of Pompeii, it is very well-preserved. People have found frescoes, pottery, furniture, good drainage systems, and tall buildings there.

Even though it was a Cycladic settlement, Akrotiri is linked to the Minoan civilization because of writing in Linear A and similar styles in artifacts and frescoes.

The first digs on Santorini were done by a French scientist in 1867. Later, in the years 1895–1900, a German scientist dug up ruins from a much later time. In 1967, a scientist named Spyridon Marinatos began big excavations and quickly found parts of the buried city. After Marinatos passed away, another scientist took over.

Many of the found objects are shown in a museum far from the site (Museum of Prehistoric Thera). Only one gold object was found, hidden under a floor. This suggests people left the city safely.

In 2018, a small shrine with a marble statue of a woman was found near a place where a golden goat was discovered in 1999.

Frescoes

See also: Wall Paintings of Thera

The wall paintings in Akrotiri help us learn about Minoan art. They are in better shape than older paintings from Knossos and other places on Crete. Many of the older paintings have only small pieces left.

Artists in Akrotiri used natural colors like white, yellow, red, brown, blue, and black. They painted on plaster that was a little wet but finished on a dry surface.

During digging, experts found many well-preserved wall paintings. In 1968, they found the first pieces in Sector Alpha, showing a face, a blue monkey, and big blue birds.

In 1969, they found the Blue Monkeys painting in Room Beta 6. The monkeys are climbing on rocks.

In 1970, the Spring Fresco was found in Room Delta 2. It was the first painting found still in perfect condition. The wall behind it was not strong, so the painting was taken down right away to save it. Saving this painting helped experts learn a lot.

Artifacts

The digs at Akrotiri found many different items, especially pottery from the Late Cycladic period. Pottery was very important in ancient Greek life. At Akrotiri, there was a lot of it because the town was left very quickly.

Pottery was used for many things, like storing goods, carrying items, cooking, eating, and even as bathtubs or oil lamps. The shape and design of each piece often told us what it was used for.

We also found clues about furniture from the volcanic ash that covered the city. This ash left shapes of wooden furniture, which scientists used to make casts. Common furniture pieces included small tables with three fancy legs.

In one house called the 'House of the Benches,' many animal horns were found. These horns, from cows, sheep, and goats, had been changed with fire and painted, but we do not know why.

Connecting path

There is a path from the first houses of the modern settlement down to the parking lot where people dig at Akrotiri. This path links the old digging area to the town of Akrotiri. It was clearly marked and opened again in September 2012. The path is kept in good shape with help from volunteers from many countries . People who live nearby also help take care of the path. You can use this path for mountain biking, hiking, and other fun activities.

Panorama of Akrotiri excavation.