













Cambridge Keros Project 2006-2008: Season 2007
Excavation: Research excavation
Following the successful field season of 2006, excavation was resumed at the site of Dhaskalio Kavos on the Cycladic island of Keros and initiated on the islet of Dhaskalio lying 80 m. to the west. After a preparatory week, excavation began on 7 May and continued for six weeks, followed by a final week on Kouphonisi for the study of the finds. Several further excavation squares were opened in the Special Deposit at Kavos South, again yielding very considerable quantities of broken elite materials, including broken pottery, marble vessels and marble figurines. Dry sieving and water sieving ensured efficient recovery, so that the absence of human teeth as well as of bone could be confirmed. Geomorphological study of the context of deposition by Dr C. French confirmed that the deposit had been formed in situ in a series of depositional episodes. Study of the pottery by Dr P. Sotirakopoulou indicated that the duration of the site was restricted to the Keros-Syros culture (Early Cycladic II) including its late Kastri phase, from c. 2700 to 21400 BC. Excavation on Dhaskalio revealed a well-preserved stone-built settlement of the same period, with extensive remains from the summit down to the sea. Here the finds were of a domestic character, with significant indications of metalworking, undergoing study by Dr M. Georgakopoulou. One interesting observation, confirmed by the excavation petrologist Dr J. Dixon, was that a high proportion of the building stone used on Dhaskalio was of marble or schist, metamorphic rocks not found on Dhaskalio itself and probably imported, in very great quantity, from south-east Naxos.
Active from 07/05/2007 to /06/2007.
Renfrew, Professor Andrew Colin
Georgakopoulou, Dr Myrto