The University of Thessaly excavation at the site of Vryokastro on Kythnos and the islet of Vryokastraki began in 2002 and is ongoing, bringing to light the ancient city of Kythnos. Habitation on the acropolis was continuous from the twelfth century BC until the sixth-seventh century AD. The antiquities on Vryokastro hill are located on successive terraces. One of the most important discoveries is the unlooted sanctuary of Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic times. Its twin temple was found undisturbed, with all the precious ex-votos in situ. To the south of the temple two altars were excavated, as well as an extensive sacral deposit (apothetes) from which hundreds of valuable votive offerings were recovered. This is one of the richest deposits of finds in the Cyclades and contained vases, figurines, jewellery, tools, precious stones, seal-stones, and so on. To the west of the sanctuary was a monumental retaining wall, close to which was a public building, probably a prytaneion, of the Classical-Hellenistic period. Excavated on the Upper Terrace of the hill was a complex of public buildings of Classical-Hellenistic times, which are identified with sanctuaries of Asklepios, the Samothracian Gods and Aphrodite, as well as a bottle-shaped cistern 7.5 m deep, inside which many vases had been discarded, as well as marble statues.
In 2018, excavations commenced on the islet of Vryokastraki, which during antiquity was part of the hill of the ancient city. Moreover, underwater investigations carried out in Mandraki Bay –that is, the ancient harbour of Kythnos– brought to light part of the now submerged coastal fortification wall and important marble sculptures of the Roman period. Significant ancient remains that are dated from the Early Cycladic period (3rd millennium BC) into the seventh century AD have come to light on Vryokastraki. The most important are a monumental sanctuary of Geometric-Classical times, a Late Antique oblong building with many rooms, and an Early Byzantine three-aisle basilica, one of the best preserved in the Cyclades. The excavation of the ancient city of Kythnos is not only of considerable archaeological-historical importance, but also educational in scope, as dozens of students are trained there each year.
Images source: Kostas Xenikakis
