- m g n ed - o he ” es r n t f ian ut t min i in PhD Lil Tra Ch Ed Desp • • Mus Ar Ar Dr Sc Cre of e a h c r a id eco ro i w o n K Dr De Ar c . hysical ia chi r i i ri en h tin ns An di cha n st . e aeo sp Ca e h t oi on Anti obs te to ts o la tif ces. Dog g i deter . s e ti used used na urce lo na oi k n ctu eo ti f o i t logi ur c s l di geop gi on na eia us kle so Tr be logis ia the Tsa C c ral so s aito st, f a ma of tha ord culati Tsafou al ia Moun te o fo a u q i n h c U S Mound t, , can e c n a t raki, in nd u, cir “ tudy n U e t s in ites artifact ive A allow help n A ry logical dre s tion Mus ator , i d r ive r chaeo o Ar s r logical A chi the l a c sit r ian re a-Agr o r chite chaeol the sity l a c isto ce y te eog ge oca d i e h t e a i t y a l of nd - g ct si uct A ur d l a logy, eh e g o of r he b gr l rap afiot o tr Thes tel: Au T its p o o with s s n a n a th af Thes gist hic Mca t iot +30 i, hor aly i, , - w . minguse.co Design Adams, n aly - n o 2870 ster w e f f d n u , Texts a i d i a nea o f deter on the yali. n, Uni versity on s b in e a e S G y l n 2481 , to O omposi b 84 o for n ted c sidia a nd . s l orig us le exist n a b a f c 0 o e S o loca a e g e o o t fax: ws Mediterra n s e f e Milos, A e ros, r enous n o llo c r e suitab a a +30 urc a e g og . h t eposits is o Melian d ly u o s sources , n e r u t s ntipa Grec e A I ester r 2870 om hich n te . hich e A w e • • • • Sc G Co Ar • Em D Sh Pi A 3 h n a a s v c a f its i , w the rt w ig ra i D D G Eva M D xe t h t n a d f ient ow ns emi if i ura man r. r. r. eo d n phi a ly ta o a l ac we n, s c the d ria v er a ilos N Mic Th B n c lo 23984 bo l s b K ifc t n ic c ro l s as C The print ou o ha tio mine ac u n a m ho M O i o n a i d i s b o all I g e Sy a C x, o ha D u is h th od tor e o l il v a c esi t, rig d e K via nser ats Co lis o or Lig rs es A y o ng nsul c o g c ri r os f ra, i Fy ns o - is u ig n no a Antiq u, r , i t i l vat to c n- n t truc K Ar n a e tan o ik s idic i- tle lca A ou a p nt. o y ion as cha c no r s o u e ov cha c l o a tl U tio vo u h r ite s y , rnary s em oc v es nive l e s ls o s of e n eo ol e re s s s ia , and k ate , G p a h t te hen lian oo log h t r G g nd a sity e t e c ian gla s ist e ol is W Qu is A ol rd a Ar M id g n a blac i t of a g s t . k s g ist lity b ya. b T c is the ki, r u d o the he m t f agm M ua o r f o d o s orm ga q m nt o f s e .4 B rock alo 1 s it t ne nt ns m ce , e n i l l a nik sits ou r o f me slu e elle i idly a t s riod po es, c y uptio s a o r The tran n ex silic e P w er de Dhe rap c - -

The Zafeiris Vaos Collection dis 0 0 0 , 1 1 y e n r u o j its a

Obsidian n o i t a m r o f ” n o i t c e l l o C to a t r o p s n a r t o t s e c n a t s i d s t i d n a What T Preh their this thousand navigtors Why caled u o y . o g a ech e g r a l n e m r e h s i f m o r f Milos, , s n o p a e w n a i d i s b O “exotic” di stone on exactly ist ni r e v o obsidan? s r a e y d n a s e t i v n i , k c o r q the ori s o a V n a e g e A ues, rr g a n u i q y s of travel tols? ot es c s l o o t c prehistoc 0 0 0 , 3 s i p raw i s is years or pr t Q nd s f o i s e c r u o s fi t c n i t s i d eruptions h om the a m u e s u M e e c ua e s u materil pr to n fac s i r i e f a Z “ e aos ur d h V t s s i h t ri volcani s t i to Milos s s ri c i r o t s i h e r p c i t a m e t s y s om To e h t ou i f o fr f o es, acquire l a r u t a n afei ar g n i n i M Z th v Aegan t f o o s t i volcanic o d s b e h t n s t i s a to ori ls for l d n e act es i olk y b if r e r u t c a f u n a m f the t make rock r s o l i M ; o g a ry o t s i h a d. an uar s e h t q m o r f collection t i b i h x e lan n ou s e h t Meli i a er e e e h t e h t idi h h s t t um n e h T n i n i ob of during covery s r a e y of n o i t r o f l i t n u The - m g n ed - o he ” es r n t f ian ut t min i in PhD Lil Tra Ch Ed Desp • • Mus Ar Ar Dr Sc Cre of e a h c r a id eco ro i w o n K Dr De Ar c . hysical ia chi r i i ri en h tin ns An di cha n st . e aeo sp Ca e h t oi on Anti obs te to ts o la tif ces. Dog g i deter . s e ti used used na urce lo na oi k n ctu eo ti f o i t logi ur c s l di geop gi on na eia us kle so Tr be logis ia the Tsa C c ral so s aito st, f a ma of tha ord culati Tsafou al ia Moun te o fo a u q i n h c U S Mound t, , can e c n a t raki, in nd u, cir “ tudy n U e t s in ites artifact ive A allow help n A ry logical dre s tion Mus ator , i d r ive r chaeo o Ar s r logical A chi the l a c sit r ian re a-Agr o r chite chaeol the sity l a c isto ce y te eog ge oca d i e h t e a i t y a l of nd - g ct si uct A ur d l a logy, eh e g o of r he b gr l rap afiot o tr Thes tel: Au T its p o o with s s n a n a th af Thes gist hic Mca t iot +30 i, hor aly i, , - w .milos minguse.co Design Adams, n aly - n o 2870 ster w e f f d n u , Texts a i d i a nea o f deter on the yali. n, Uni versity on s b in e a e S G y l n 2481 , to O omposi b 84 o for n ted c sidia a nd . s l orig us le exist n a b a f c 0 o e S o loca a e g e o o t fax: ws Mediterra n s e f e Milos, A e ros, r enous n o llo c r e suitab a a +30 urc a e g og . h t eposits is o Melian d ly u o s sources , n e r u t s ntipa Grec e A I ester r 2870 om hich n te . hich e A w e • • • • Sc G Co Ar • Em D Sh Pi A 3 h n a a s v c a f its i , w the rt w ig ra i D D G Eva M D xe t h t n a d f ient ow ns emi if i ura man r. r. r. eo d n phi a ly ta o a l ac we n, s c the d ria v er a ilos N Mic Th B n c lo 23984 bo l s b K ifc t n ic c ro l s as C The print ou o ha tio mine ac u n a m ho M O i o n a i d i s b o all I g e Sy a C x, o ha D u is h th od tor e o l il v a c esi t, rig d e K via nser ats Co lis o or Lig rs es A y o ng nsul c o g c ri r os f ra, i Fy ns o - is u ig n no a Antiq u, r , i t i l vat to c n- n t truc K Ar n a e tan o ik s idic i- tle lca A ou a p nt. o y ion as cha c no r s o u e ov cha c l o a tl U tio vo u h r ite s y , rnary s em oc v es nive l e s ls o s of e n eo ol e re s s s ia , and k ate , G p a h t te hen lian oo log h t r G g nd a sity e t e c ian gla s ist e ol is W Qu is A ol rd a Ar M id g n a blac i t of a g s t . k s g ist lity b ya. b T c is the ki, r u d o the he m t f agm M ua o r f o d o s orm ga q m nt o f s e .4 B rock alo 1 s it t ne nt ns m ce , e n i l l a nik sits ou r o f me slu e elle i idly a t s riod po es, c y uptio s a o r The tran n ex silic e P w er de Dhe rap c - -

The Zafeiris Vaos Collection dis 0 0 0 , 1 1 y e n r u o j its a

Obsidian n o i t a m r o f ” n o i t c e l l o C to a t r o p s n a r t o t s e c n a t s i d s t i d n a What T Preh their this thousand navigtors Why caled u o y . o g a ech e g r a l n e m r e h s i f m o r f Milos, , s n o p a e w n a i d i s b O “exotic” di stone on exactly ist ni r e v o obsidan? s r a e y d n a s e t i v n i , k c o r q the ori s o a V n a e g e A ues, rr g a n u i q y s of travel tols? ot es c s l o o t c prehistoc 0 0 0 , 3 s i p raw i s is years or pr t Q nd s f o i s e c r u o s fi t c n i t s i d eruptions h om the a m u e s u M e e c ua e s u materil pr to n fac s i r i e f a Z “ e aos ur d h V t s s i h t ri volcani s t i to Milos s s ri c i r o t s i h e r p c i t a m e t s y s om To e h t ou i f o fr f o es, acquire l a r u t a n afei ar g n i n i M Z th v Aegan t f o o s t i volcanic o d s b e h t n s t i s a to ori ls for l d n e act es i olk y b if r e r u t c a f u n a m f the t make rock r s o l i M ; o g a ry o t s i h a d. an uar s e h t q m o r f collection t i b i h x e lan n ou s e h t Meli i a er e e e h t e h t idi h h s t t um n e h T n i n i ob of during covery s r a e y of n o i t r o f l i t n u The The knapping techniques Stages of preparation of a pressure core of Melian obsidian were primarily suited for the manufacture of blades, which are a kind of long Pressure platform Pressure point Pressure point and sharp knife. Prehistoric obsidian knapping techniques improved through time, resulting in the production of regular and extremely sharp blades. In order to produce these blades initially the natural rock is shaped into cores –typically conical in shape– which are then knapped using either percussion or pressure flaking. The latter Indirect percussion is the most advanced blade manufacturing knapping. A punch is placed technique and during the 3rd millennium B.C.E. between the hammer it became the dominant technique in the Aegean. and the core.

1. Crest shaping 2. Crested blade removal 3. Removal of 2nd row crested blade Tools are produced by retouching flakes or blades. Some of the most characteristic tools are the arrowheads and spearheads of the collection, as well as the sickles, perforators, and scrapers. Pressure flaking

Left Leaf-shaped spearhead

A long crutch is Below used for blade Tanged arrowheads pressure flaking. The craftspeople, sitting or standing, exert pressure on the core with their body.

At the Melian quarries Obsidian travels Millions of core preparation waste debris and numerous blade Initially obsidian was trans - From the Mesolithic period cores at the initial preparation stages have been found ferred from Milos to various and until the end of Aegean at the site of Nychia, close to Adamas, and at Dhemenegaki, settlements with small boats prehistory with the destruction on the east coast of the island. These waste products help us with oars, and after the 3rd of Mycenaean palaces, obsidian Dhemenegaki to “read” the gestures of the prehistoric craftspeople, millennium B.C.E. with the was the most coveted rock to understand how they organized their work at more advanced sailboats of for stone tool production the quarries, by testing the quality of the raw the Early Cycladic cultures. reaching settlements of up material and preparing the cores, which they Throughout prehistory the to 400 km away from Milos. Nychia would later transfer to distant settlements complex networks of exchange During the historical period in the Aegean, mainland and . and interaction that were in obsidian was used in smaller place were responsible for quantities mainly for the the circulation of products decoration of statues, the and raw materials, such as manufacture of vessels, and metals and obsidian. The even in “magical” medical natural beauty of obsidian recipes until the Early and the skill required to knap Christian period. it into prismatic blades, gave it a special social connotation. At the prehistoric settlements of Milos obsidian was used for the pro - duction of blades and tools. After the 5th millennium B.C.E., Plan of Phylakopi during the Late Neolithic period, in the Late Bronze Age the first permanent settlements were established on the island. The town of Phylakopi, on the northern coast of the island, is one of the most important sites of the Bronze Age 0m30 .

View of the Phylakopi fortification wall from the South - m g n ed - o he ” es r n t f ian ut t min i in Lil Tra Ch Ed PhD Ar Desp • Ar Dr Sc Cre • Mus of e a h c r a id eco ro i w o n K Ar Dr De c . hysical ia chi r i i ri en h tin ns An di cha n st . e aeo sp Ca e h t oi on Anti obs te to ts o la tif ces. Dog g i deter . s e ti used used na urce lo na oi k n ctu eo ti f o i t logi ur c s l di geop gi on na eia us kle so Tr be logis ia the Tsa C c ral so s aito st, f a ma of tha ord culati Tsafou al ia Moun te o fo a u q i n h c U S Mound t, , can e c n a t raki, in nd u, cir “ tudy n U e t s in ites artifact ive A allow help n A ry logical dre s tion Mus ator , i d r ive r chaeo o Ar s r logical A chi the l a c sit r ian re a-Agr o r chite chaeol the sity l a c isto ce y te eog ge oca d i e h t e a i t y a l of nd - g ct si uct A ur l a d logy, eh e g o of r b he gr l rap afiot o tr Thes tel: Au its o o p with n a th s s n a T af Thes gist hic Mca t iot +30 i, hor aly i, , - w .milos minguse.co Design Adams, n aly - n o 2870 ster w e f f d n u , Texts a i d i a nea o f deter on the yali. n, Uni versity on s b in e a e S G y l n 2481 , to O omposi b 84 o for n ted c sidia a nd . s l orig us le exist n a b a f c 0 o e S o loca a e g e o o t fax: ws Mediterra n s e f e Milos, A e ros, r enous n o llo c r e suitab a a +30 urc a e g og . h t eposits is o Melian d ly u o s sources , n e r u t s ntipa Grec e A I ester r 2870 om hich n te . hich e A w e • • G • • • Sc Co Ar Pi D 3 Sh Em A h n a a s v c a f its i , w the rt w ig ra i D G D Eva M D xe t h t n a d f ient ow ns emi if i ura man r. r. r. eo d n phi a ly ta o a l ac we n, s c the d ria v er a ilos N Mic Th B n c lo 23984 bo l s b K ifc t n ic c ro l s as C The print ou o all o O ho tio M i u n a m ha mine ac i d i s b o I n a g e Sy a C x, o ha D u is h th od tor e o l il v a c esi t, rig d e K via nser ats Co lis o or Lig rs es A y o ng nsul c o g c ri r os f ra, i Fy ns o - is u ig n no a Antiq u, r , i t i l vat to c n- n t truc K Ar n a e tan o ik s idic i- tle lca A ou a p nt. o y ion as cha c no r s o u e ov cha c l o a tl U tio vo u h r ite s y , rnary s em oc v es nive l e s ls o s of e n eo ol e re s s s ia , and k ate , G p a h t te hen lian oo log h t r G g nd a sity e t e c ian gla s ist e ol is W Qu is A ol rd a Ar M id g n a blac i t of a g s t . k s g ist lity b ya. b T c is the ki, r u d o the he m t f agm M ua o r f o d o s orm ga q m nt o f s e .4 B rock alo 1 s it t ne nt ns m ce , e n i l l a nik sits ou r o f me slu e elle i idly a t s riod po es, c y uptio s a o r The n ex e P tran w er silic Dhe rap de c - -

The Zafeiris Vaos Collection dis 0 0 0 , 1 1 y e n r u o j its a

Obsidian n o i t a m r o f ” n o i t c e l l o C to a t r o p s n a r t o t s e c n a t s i d s t i d n a What Preh T thousand their this navigtors Why caled u o y . o g a ech e g r a l n e m r e h s i f m o r f Milos, , s n o p a e w n a i d i s b O “exotic” di stone on exactly ist ni r e v o obsidan? s r a e y d n a s e t i v n i , k c o r q the ori s o a V n a e g e A ues, rr g a n u i q y s of travel tols? ot es c s l o o t c prehistoc 0 0 0 , 3 s i p raw i s is years or pr t Q nd s f o i s e c r u o s fi t c n i t s i d eruptions h om the a m u e s u M e e c ua e s u materil pr to n fac s i r i e f a Z “ e aos ur d h V t s s i h t ri volcani s t i to Milos s s ri c i r o t s i h e r p c i t a m e t s y s om To e h t ou i f o fr f o es, acquire l a r u t a n afei ar g n i n i M Z th v Aegan t f o o s t i volcanic o d s b e h t n s t i s a to ori ls for l d n e act es i olk y b if r e r u t c a f u n a m f the t make rock r s o l i M ; o g a ry o t s i h a d. an uar s e h t q m o r f collection t i b i h x e lan n ou s e h t Meli i a er e e e h t e h t idi h h s t t um n e h T n i n i ob of during covery s r a e y of n o i t r o f l i t n u The