The Photographic Exhibition of Akrotiri - Minoan Archaeological Excavation

"For more than 3,500 years the ancient Bronze Age community lay hidden- one of Greece's many secrets of the past. Then, as is often the case with various heritage sites, the town of Akrotiri was accidentally discovered. Quarry workers, digging out the pumice for use in the manufacture of cement for the Suez Canal, chanced upon some stone walls in the middle of their quarry. These eventually proved to be remains of the long-forgotten town. Archaeologists from France and later from Germany did some preliminary excavation in the second half of the 19th Century but it was not until 1967 that systematic excavation began at the site in earnest. Spyridon Marinatos, supported by the Archaeological Society of Athens, soon began to uncover the remains of the ancient town. It was not easy. Not only were the buried buildings two or even three stories tall, the original building materials (clay and wood) had been damaged by earthquakes, fire and the hands of time. It was necessary to proceed slowly and carefully. Work on the project has now been on-going for almost four decades and it is likely to continue into the foreseeable future."

-taken from historymuseum.ca link below

In 1969, early stages of the excavations were undertaken by tunneling exploratory tunnels through the soft pumice stone.

In 1969, early stages of the excavation were undertaken by tunneling exploratory tunnels through the soft pumice stone. In the centre stands Professor and Head Archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos.

In 1970, archaeologists continued to uncover pumice stone from around the ravine, where first indications of Akrotiri were found.

In 1970, archaeologists continued to uncover pumice stone from around the ravine, were first indications of Akrotiri were found.

The West House contained, amongst others, the wall-paintings of the ‘Young Priestess’, the ‘Fishermen’ and the ‘Miniature Frieze’.

The entire site was covered with a large roof to protect the fragile ruins from the elements. The roof incorporated skylights giving the site an eerie yellow light. Shown above left of center is the door and window from Delta 2, Building Complex Delta, were the ‘Spring Fresco’ wall-painting was found.

Building Beta, room Beta 1: Built-in large storage vessels held either liquids or grain stuffs. This narrow space served the adjacent room in which were found the wall-paintings of the ‘Boxing Boys’ and the ‘Antelopes’.

The West House, an internal view. The structure once rose two stories above the street level. This first level contained storage facilities and the second level probably housed the family’s living quarters.

Vessels with three legs lie broken in a storage basement.

Building Complex Delta. Staircase, buckled by the force of the earthquake. The large monolithic steps are one of the most famous images of the destruction at Akrotiri.

Building Beta, room Beta 1: This storage area contained vessels of a variety of sizes used for cooking and serving. To the center and right lie stacks of smaller vessels.

Building Beta, room Beta 1: A close-up of the vessels shows the high quality of Theran pottery workshops.

Xeste 3, room 3: Storage area. The exquisite vessels illustrate the very best of Theran pottery decoration. These vessels were probably once used for fine dinning.

1970, Building Beta, room Beta 2: The stone tiles of the second floor are shown, buckled by the earthquake. The heavy stone floor has collapsed. The use of heavy stone tiles on the second floor is testimony to the developed architectural and structural skills of the ancient Theran engineers.

Building Complex Delta: Restorer Mr. Perakis carefully exposes the plaster cast of a Theran bed.

Building Complex Delta: Placed carefully under the bed for protection or storage, these vessels once contained liquids.

These large storage vessels once contained various foodstuffs. Theran potters marked the outside of the vessels with stylized images of wheat and other consumables so as to indicate the contents when sealed. (This image appeared in an edition of the National Geographic Magazine).

Building Complex Delta: Shown in situ is the so-called ‘Spring Fresco’; a rocky landscape decorated with the famous “kissing” swallows and flowery lilies. In this room was found a bed alongside numerous storage vessels.

Using a brush, head-worker Mr. Karamitros gently uncovers what archaeologists believe to be an ancient bathtub.

Building Complex Delta: During excavation small voids and holes were found containing remnants of organic matter. Suspecting these to be imprints of long decomposed objects, archaeologists poured plaster into these voids. Excavation then continued, slowly exposing a cast of object that had long since disappeared. Shown here is Mr. Perakis working on a bed frame bound with rope.

House of the Ladies (fresco of the ‘Bare breasted woman’): After some 3500 years this superb fresco emerges from the pumice. The next stage is for the paint to be stabilized with a glue and acetone solution. This provides the paint with additional adherence to the plaster.

Xeste 3, room 3a, head of a ‘Saffron Gatherer’: Removed carefully from its original location and placed on a collecting tray, the wall-painting is ready for transportation to the restoration lab.

Xeste 3, room 3a, ‘Young Saffron Gatherer’: With larger wall-paintings found relatively intact, restoration specialists use a glue and acetone solution to gently adhere a medical grade gauze to the rear of the wall-painting, thus preventing disintegration during transportation.

Building Complex Delta, room Delta 3: A large important bronze vessel is uncovered with much excitement and enthusiasm.

Source/Quote:

https://web.archive.org/web/20120330195854/http://www.therafoundation.org/photographicexhibitionofakrotiri/

https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/greece/gr1040e.html