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Modern Description: The most significant Early Cycladic site explored so far on Amorgos, known as Markianí, occupies the rock outcrop and summit just to the left (south) of the road at 14.5km. To the north and south sides of the outcrop the foundation walls of dwellings are visible, and the outline of a fortification wall around can be traced in stretches: this ‘acropolis' enceinte possessed semicircular bastions. The bold site, which sits on the summit looking out over the water to Astypalaia, Anaphi and Santorini, may have been inhabited for as long as eight centuries, beginning around 2800 BC. Excavations since 1985 on the southern slope have brought to light artefacts of a predominantly practical, domestic and commercial nature, including a wide variety of tools, and some lead and clay seals. The latter point to a high degree of organised commercial exchange.
The practical finds from Markianí contrast noticeably with the ritual objects, such as the marble figurines, generally retrieved from cemeteries. One very important source of these has been the cemeteries excavated in the area of Dokathismata, which lies not far from Markianí (2km as the crow flies to the north of the conical hill of Poúlos visible to the northwest). The style of figurines from the excavations here is quite distinct, with a much greater emphasis on line than volume. The ‘Dokathismata type' is predominantly flatter in profile, with much wider, sloping shoulders, tapering to thin calves and ankles, giving an overall pentagonal form to the thorax and abdomen. They bear careful incisions which define the forms. Although it may not appear so at first sight, there is considerable stylistic variety within the corpus of Cycladic figurines.
Wikidata ID: Q56399295

Info: McGilchrist's Greek Islands

(From McGilchrist’s Greek Islands, © Nigel McGilchrist 2010, excerpted with his gracious permission. Click for the books)

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