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The site of Koukounaries on Paros is a naturally fortified hill, in the bay of Naousa. Although Mycenaean settlers and their successors established an acropolis with a fortification and a mansion as well as significant sanctuaries at various points on the hill up to the Archaic period\u2014during the time of the Parian poet Archilochus\u2014and leveled earlier architectural remains, many elements of the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age survived, scattered beneath later constructions or intact in certain areas.<\/p>\n
Neolithic populations established post-built and rough-walled structures during the 5th and 4th millennia BCE. They used dark, polished ceramic vessels, many of which bear traces of red slip or crust, a characteristic of the period. Most vessels are bowls and jars, some featuring cord-impressed or relief decorations and decorative attachments.\u00a0Some of the finds are chronologically placed at the end of the Neolithic and the transition to the Early Bronze Age, coinciding with the use of the Plastiras cemetery, a site in the bay near Koukounaries, where earlier excavations uncovered a collection of figurines with very distinctive characteristics.<\/p>\n
After a hiatus of several centuries, new inhabitants of the Early Bronze Age (Early Cycladic II) constructed a small two-story building at the top of the hill. It included storage areas and a subterranean drainage system for rainwater. Marble figurine fragments from this period were found in the deposits of the Mycenaean structure\u2014likely collected on the hill and stored by the Mycenaeans.\u00a0Given that few prehistoric settlements in the Cyclades have been excavated compared to Cycladic cemeteries, Koukounaries provides valuable information about prehistoric residential space and settlement organization in the Cyclades.<\/p>\n
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Excavation by the Athens Archaeological Society (1974-1992, D. Schilardi)<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”864″ img_size=”full”][vc_single_image image=”865″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_row][vc_column width=”5\/6″][vc_media_grid element_width=”3″ gap=”10″ initial_loading_animation=”none” grid_id=”vc_gid:1769258115011-c2f296f8-d01d-5″ include=”164,167,165,166″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”s2-project-read-more”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_separator][vc_column_text]2025, S. Katsarou, STEINZEIT \u2013 Die Wiege der Kykladenkultur.<\/a> In: J. Tae Jensen (ed.), Die Kykladen. Wiege fr\u00fchgriechischer Kultur<\/em>, pp. 17-26. Antike Welt Sonderheft 22.<\/p>\n 2024, S. Katsarou, Koukounaries: The final Neolithic settlement and its Cycladic context,<\/a> Sixth International Conference on the Archaeology of Paros and the Cyclades. Paros and its Cycladic Neighbours: <\/em>Relations, Contacts, Influences, Paroikia, Paros, 14-17 June 2024<\/em> (Organizer: The Paros and Cyclades Institute of Archaeology, D. Katsonopoulou)<\/em>.<\/p>\n 2019, S. Katsarou,\u00a0The formation of Aegean Neolithic seen through the prism of social presence and activity,<\/a>\u00a0Archaeological Dialogues, 5th meeting, Volos, University of Thessaly, 30 May-1 June 2019. Session: Reconstructing the island \u201cact-scapes\u201d in the Aegean. The Stone Age\u00a0<\/em>(Organizer:<\/em>\u00a0E. Kalogiropoulou)<\/em>\u00a0[in Greek]<\/span><\/p>\n 2016, S. Katsarou, D. U. Schilardi, Recontextualized Neolithic and Early Cycladic figurines at the acropolis of Koukounaries, Paros.<\/a> In: M. Marthari, C. Renfrew, M. Boyd (eds.), Early Cycladic Sculpture in Context<\/em>, pp. 409-420. Oxford. Oxbow.<\/p>\n 2014, S. Katsarou, D. U. Schilardi, Recontextualized Neolithic and Early Cycladic figurines at the acropolis of Koukounaries,<\/a> Paros, EIDOLION 2014. Early Cycladic Sculpture in Context<\/em>, Athens<\/em>, 27-29 May 2014 <\/em>(<\/em>Organizers: M. Marthari, C. Renfrew, University of <\/em>Cambridge<\/em>)<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n 2008, S. Katsarou, D. U. Schilardi, Some thoughts on the EC domestic space, arising from observations on Koukounaries in Paros.<\/a> In: N. Brodie, J. Doole, G. Gavalas, C. Renfrew (eds.), Horizon. <\/em>\u0391<\/em> Colloquium on the Prehistory of the Cyclades (Cambridge, 25-27 March 2004)<\/em>, pp. 61-70. Cambridge. The McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research.<\/p>\n 2008, D. Katsonopoulou, I. Petropoulos, S. Katsarou (eds.), Archilochos and His Age. Paros II: Second International Conference on the Archaeology of Paros and the Cyclades<\/em> (Paroikia, Paros, October 7-9, 2005). <\/em><\/a>Athens. The Paros and Cyclades Institute of Archaeology.<\/p>\n 2005,\u00a0Archilochos and His Age. Second International Conference on the Archaeology of Paros and the Cyclades,<\/em> <\/a>Paroikia, Paros, Archilochos Society Hall, 7-9 October 2005<\/a> (<\/em>Organizers: The Paros and Cyclades Institute of Archaeology, D. Katsonopoulou, S. Katsarou)<\/em>.<\/p>\n 2005, S. Katsarou-Tzeveleki, D. U. Schilardi, The Neolithic occupation at Koukounaries, Paros.<\/a> In: A. Sampson, \u03a4he Prehistory of the Aegean Basin. Palaeolithic-Mesolithic-Neolithic,<\/em> pp. 194-198. Athens. Editions Atrapos. [in Greek]<\/span><\/p>\n 2004, S. Katsarou, D. U. Schilardi, Emerging Neolithic and Early Cycladic settlements in Paros: Koukounaries and Sklavouna,<\/a> BSA<\/em> 99, pp. 23-48. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/S0068245400017020<\/a><\/p>\n