Entire island of Makronissos declared an archaeological site

The island of Makronissos, off the coast of Attica, was declared an archaeological site by a unanimous decision of the Central Archaeological Council, at the recommendation of the Cyclades Antiquities Ephorate that has been conducting excavations in the last years on and around the island.

According to Culture Tourism announcement on Thursday: "Makronissos, already known as the site of tragic moments of the modern Greek history has been protected by the Greek state since 1989. It was declared a historic site and the remains of the camps where the exiles were housed were declared protected buildings. However, following extended excavations conducted by the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities in the area of Makronissos, five ancient shipwrecks dating back to the mid-Hellenistic and the post-Roman era were discovered".

The first traces of human presence on Markronissos date back to 4,000 BC while the first settlement was founded at the location Provata, in the west part of the island, during the early Bronze Age.

The ministry said that "The many different archaeological finds and locations spread all over the island, both in its interior and along its shores, is something that is linked to the island's rich supply of metals and also with its crucial geographic position in the Aegean.