This year’s archaeological campaign on the Greek islands of Despotiko (the ancient Prepesinthos) and Tsimindiri, in the Cyclades, concluded with significant discoveries that shed new light on the region’s history. This excavation, led by archaeologist Giannos Kouragios under the supervision of the Directorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades, was conducted over six weeks, from May 20 to June 28, 2024. It involved collaboration from prominent archaeologists and students from various universities in Europe, America, and Brazil.
On the island of Despotiko, the work focused on buildings located outside the ancient archaic sanctuary, in the area between it and the coast. One of the most significant findings was the continuation of the excavation of Building MN, identified in 2023 and dated to the second half of the 6th century BC.
This rectangular building has walls up to 1.20 meters thick constructed with large carved stones. During the excavation, eight rooms were discovered, some of which contained rectangular constructions and a water drainage channel.
The Building Ω was also investigated, where fragments of at least three kouros statues and marble bases were found in 2023. This building, which could have served as a propylon, showed evidence of multiple phases of construction and repair, suggesting continuous use since the 6th century BC.
In the area near Building Z, another significant discovery was an additional room of the archaic building Za, found beneath the paved courtyard of Z. This older building appears to have had a different orientation and consisted of at least three aligned rooms. A large quantity of archaic-era pottery was recovered from its interior.
The excavations also revealed a large concentration of shells and pottery from the 6th and 5th centuries BC in room 11 of Building B, confirming the residential and secular use of the building over a long period.
The small island of Tsimindiri, located between the bay of Agios Georgios in Antiparos and the Mandra area in Despotiko, was also the site of significant archaeological discoveries. Although several buildings had been identified in previous campaigns, this year, thanks to the installation of a floating platform, a more thorough investigation was possible.
It was confirmed that many of the buildings previously considered independent structures actually form two large complexes, AT and BT, aligned along the southern side of the island. The AT complex, rectangular in shape, consists of at least six rooms around a central courtyard, while the BT complex spans 45 meters in width and 18 meters in length, with several rooms arranged around spacious courtyards.
One of the most surprising discoveries on Tsimindiri was the finding of a trapezoidal tomb from the Proto-Cycladic I period (late 4th millennium BC) within the BT complex. The tomb contained pottery and human skeletal remains in a flexed position. This finding suggests that the complex was built in the 6th century BC over an ancient cemetery, without the builders being aware of the tomb’s existence.
Parallel to the excavations, restoration work was carried out on Building D of the archaic sanctuary in Despotiko, one of the most important buildings on the site. The restoration work included the placement of marble bases and other architectural structures under the supervision of architect Goulielmos Orestidis.
Conservation efforts also extended to the consolidation of walls and the stabilization of mortars at both sites, conducted by conservator Georgios Karampalis.
The discoveries made on the islands of Despotiko and Tsimindiri highlight the importance of this region in antiquity, both as a religious center and a possible commercial port. With new excavations scheduled for next summer, more is expected to be revealed about the complex history of these islands in the Aegean Sea.
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