This season, excavations at the Akrotiri settlement revealed spectacular findings - 13 chests from up to 5000 years ago, filled with artefacts of Cycladic culture. One of the most impressive parts of the wall paintings from the prehistoric city, assembled from thousands of plaster fragments, was also uncovered. After excavations had stalled for a few years, sponsorship from cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab has allowed the archeologists to expand works, and today, celebrate their findings.
Akrotiri archaeologists revealed some of the project’s achievements to Eugene Kaspersky, Founder of Kaspersky Lab, on his latest visit to the site. After a close examination of the part of the settlement known as the ‘House of Benches’ they had discovered 13 clay chests under the debris covering the floor of one of the buildings. The chests were triumphally revealed, and will now be thoroughly examined by researchers. One of the most striking findings was an old female figurine, hidden inside a small chest dating back up to 5000 years ago. The figure is of scientific interest, as its look reflects a transition between the earliest periods of Cycladic culture and could be a clue to many mysteries of the Akrotiri region.
Another prominent accomplishment has been the unveiling of one of the most impressive compositions of wall-paintings from the prehistoric city: including frescoes on the wall of the city’s largest building. These paintings once decorated the walls flanking all flights of the staircase and its landings; and are estimated to cover a total surface of ca. 90m². The work to restore and conserve the wall paintings will be continued over the next few years.
Learning from the past to understand the future: the preservation of both cultural heritage and ancient achievements is an integral part of preparing for our future development.
Three years ago, after Eugene Kaspersky’s private visit to Akrotiri, Kaspersky Lab began its cooperation with the Archeological Society at Athens, to support the excavation of the Akrotiri settlement in the Aegean Sea. While the exploration of the historic Cycladic archeological site is far from over, recent findings are already proving that Akrotiri may have a lot to offer to the scholars of ancient Greece. The objects discovered include a female figure; one of the most naturalistic forms of Early Cycladic sculpture dating around 3000 BC, and a bronze ibex figurine.
According to the Greece Ministry of Culture and Sports, these finds are undoubtedly linked to the views and beliefs of the Thiran society and provide a stimulus for a new interpretive drive on fundamental questions about the ideology and possibly the religion of prehistoric Aegean society.*
“We are excited to see so much progress sponsored by Kaspersky Lab, but the team’s current projects are only a small part of the scientific initiatives at Akrotiri. Our future plans include extending the Laboratory for the Conservation of Wall Paintings, and continuing our project to conserve the buildings, to ensure the best possible protection of the ruins for everyone interested in Greek culture. We are aiming to improve how easy it is for visitors to understand the cultural significance of the Akrotiri site”, Professor Christos Doumas, Director of Excavations at the Prehistoric Settlement of Akrotiri, Thira.
For his contributions to the culture and history of the island, Eugene Kaspersky was awarded the honorary citizenship of Santorini, by Anastasios-Nikolaos Zorzos, Mayor of Thira.
Kaspersky Lab initiatives are not limited to exploring the past – the company is also presenting its discoveries to new generations. Meanwhile, researchers are working on digitizing information about Akrotiri and improving visual presentation of the site.
*Source: The Greek Ministry of Culture [October 12, 2018]
