Santorini Weblog

As in Pompeii, the volcanic covering of the archeological site at Akrotiri on Santorini, has kept an ancient settlement from disintegrating over time. The site was found by accident when the Suez Canal was being constructed in 1860. Workers quarrying Santorini’s volcanic ash discovered the ruins, but serious excavations at the site didn’t begin until 1967. An unfortunate collapse of the roof in 2005, which killed a British tourist, caused the site to be closed. It’s scheduled to be reopened sometime after 2010. Greek bureaucracy has brought the repairs of the building to a halt, which has caused Santorini’s tourist trade to suffer.

Akrotiri is referred to by some as the “Minoan Pompeii” because of the similarities of the destruction by volcano and the advanced forms of architecture and plumbing. It’s one of the most important prehistoric settlements in the Aegean Sea. By analyzing the different items found in the ruins, archeologists were able to pinpoint which countries traded in the port at Akrotiri up until it was covered by lava around 1450 BCE.

Some speculate that Akrotiri could be the lost city of Atlantis. However, it’s widely accepted that Akrotiri was part of the Minoan civilization of Crete centered at Knossos. Akrotiri also had trade connections with the Greek mainland, Cyprus, Syria, Egypt, and the other islands in the area known as the Dodecanese. Frescoes discovered in the excavations portray parades of boats in what must have been a very busy merchant port.

Archeologists have found an elaborate drainage system, multi-story buildings, art work, clay vessels for food and wine storage, and furniture, all indicating this was a prosperous seaside civilization dating back to around 3000 BCE. To date, only one gold object has been found. A gold ibex was discovered underneath the floor of a house, as if forgotten.

source:http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-20799-LA-Cultural-Travel-Examiner~y2009m8d28-Akrotiri-Santorini–the-Minoan-Pompeii–part-1