“Look Over There”: STARC, in Collaboration With the University of Cambridge to Exhibit Unique Antiquities of Keros in Koufonisia

The “Look Over There” exhibition that features archaeological finds from the excavations at the Aegean islands of Keros and Daskalio, officially opened its doors to the public this past weekend at the Archaeological Collection of Koufonisia. The exhibition invites the visitor to admire the unique spectacle of antiquities with a history of thousands of years. Remarkably, many of the archaeological finds from the two islands have never been on public display before.

The excavations, which recently concluded, where co-directed by Cambridge Archaeology Prof. Lord Colin Renfrew and Dr. Michael Boyd, in conjunction with archaeologists from the “Ephorate of the Cyclades”, a team from The Cyprus Institute led by Asst. Professor Evi Margaritis, and the British School at Athens.

Keros and Daskalio, were two of the most important locations of the Early Cycladic Period (3.200-2.100 BC). Archaeologists have uncovered a series of impressive stairways, drainage systems and stone-built structures revealing a sophisticated urban architecture unprecedented for the period. The settlement, on what is now the small island of Daskalio, was originally linked by a narrow causeway with the nearby location at Kavos at the west of Keros, where remarkable quantities of broken marble sculptures, vessels and pottery, had been ritually placed in two “Special Deposits” over a period of some five hundred years.

In addition, archaeologists discovered significant evidence for advanced architectural planning at the early prehistoric site of Daskalio. Also, excavations have revealed the close ties between Keros-Daskalio and the neighbouring Greek islands and Asia Minor. The tools were made from blades of obsidian, a volcanic glass imported from the Cycladic island of Melos, confirm that the islanders were accomplished sailors.

Overall, the “Look Over There” exhibition portrays aspects of life in Keros in the 4^th millennium BC, and also the aspects of the excavation process carried out using pioneering technologies as well as aspects of the demanding work of archaeologists, which took place under particularly difficult soil and climatic conditions.

For more information read the following article in Greek here.