The drawing of boat on the rock. Wild animals and birds. Forms symbolic, that they ritually refer in prehistorikal subjects and other wich are still unknown. In Strofilas of Andros, where it came in the light settlement of final Neolithic period.  The representations of beings and objects, recommend one from the most interesting archaeological totals of last years. The engravements through their subjects give us important information about the persons of that period, the natural environment, their activities. However, “they are work that constitutes distant but genuine ancestors of symbolic art of prehistorical Cyclades, as says the archaelogist lady Christina Televantou, who has revealed the engravements of Andros.

 

 

In Aegean of final Neolithic season, that is to say in the dues of 4th millenium B.C., little before the beginning of season of coper that would bring the development in the culture, in this “dark” or unclear passage from a period in the other, the persons already had developed a way of communication and transmission of information via the depiction of representations. Engravements of prehistoric season, usually linearly (seldom representivly), they have been also found in other parts of Greece in rocks or in caverns.

 

It is the first time however where they are revealed in settlement and result through excavation so that is argued their dated. [Brachografies] in [Strofila] they are [epikroystes] or [skalistes], many from them are [eikonistikes] and in particular with narrating character, while other are schematic with content symbolic. As says lady Televantou, they have been found in various points of settlement, in stones at the exterior aspect of wall, in the rock that is found at his length, as well as in a space which is considered that had a kind of religion use in the settlement.

 

 

In the base  rock, which were found near the exterior aspect of wall, in an area of 70 m2 , exists a representation which should be been visible from the wall but also from the ground. In this are portrayed at least 12 boats in various types and sizes, a lot of animals and big fish. One of the boats has length 50 cm. In front of this in deed exists a symbol, which is considered that it declares the divine protection. Certain other, smaller, boats appears as if they are found in bight, it has for charge two goats, while beside them exists also a dog. The hunting in the wild nature is an other scene of this representation, where at teams wild animals, potentially wolves or jackal, they chase a deer.

Exist however also symbolic subjects, as the one that resembles with human sole, which is also met in [brachografies] the countryside in Naxos and has been interpreted as constellation or the [daktylioschimo] form that coincides with this [neolithikon] [periapton]. The boat is also the sovereign subject in the representation on the stones of the wall.

More than 20 boats are portrayed there, individually or at teams. “Most appear to have direction to the gate and possibly they functioned as drivers on the entry in the settlement” it says lady Televantou. She herself it considers that the big importance that is given in the boat, in combination in deed with the wall, proves that it constituted the particular symbol of Strofilas.

 

 

The surprise in Strofilas comes from third, big engravement that was found in the floor of a room from the building of settlement, that covers a surface of 100 m2. It is for a constituted space where it was intended for ritual aims. One holy that is to say. In a side of notch is pictured a fish, while in the other exist small cavities in dense spiral provision, a subject which it is permanently repeated in the representation. In other point of representation are found assembled a lot of boats, the one from which it transports a animal, while in her centre is pictured a aquatic bird.

 

Finally, they are repeated and here the “eightscheme” subject that reminds human sole and other symbols, that are considered religious symbols that attribute schematically the human form and specifically the women. In Strofilas moreover they found four stone [periapta], alone until today in Cyclades.

 

 

 Andros from the neolithic season played already important role in the development and configuration of culture of Cyclades. This show the excavations so much in Strofilas and in the places Mikrogiali, Vriokastro and Plaka, where were developed settlements. The last one with until now discoveries, is considered that was founded in the beginning of precocious season of coper and one of his interesting elements is extensive [brachografies] with the same characteristic symbols with those at Strofilas.

 

Unique among them the composition in which is depicted in natural size the head of human form, surrounding with representively and symbolic subjects: pairs of arms with open hands at rest invocation or prayer with ringscheme jewel tied up in the fruit of each hand, big curvedscheme arrow, pairs of forms that resemble with human soles, boats and radial disk that potentially declares the Sun. “Andros with big built-upgrowth and same with [Strofila], who until now is unique as for the size and his maintenance in Cyclades, undeniably played separate role in the configuration of neolithic culture in this area”  says lady Televantou.

 

MARIA THERMOU

 

TO VIMA, 28/01/2007, P.: C03 of

 Code article: B14976C031

 ID: 283236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The three mayors of Andros function the illegal dump of entire island, in an official archaeological area at STAVROPEDA, where among archaic, Roman and other monuments, is found the neolithic settlement of Strofilas 4500-3200 B.C.

Was discovered initially in 1994 and is considered the most ancient “CITY” in Europe because of it’s size (25000 m2 with vaulted and rectancular buildings), organised social structure (TEMPLE, FORTIFICATION wall, harbour), as well as the developed technological and cultural society (NAVIGATION, gold, and 250 m2 ROCK ENGRAVEMENTS that render him as UNIQUE OPEN AIR ART gallery)!!!!

 The DESTRUCTION BECOMES with the APPROVAL of Central Archaeological Council !!!, and by MINISTER of CULTURE !!!, DESPITE the OPPOSITE PROPOSALS of RESPONSIBLE special departments of Ministry of Culture ([DIPKA]/KA [EPKA]).

 It is expected CANCELLATION of these minister’s unbelievable decisionsby the supreme court <Council of Territory> soon.

 In the same archaeological space function or functioned illegally enterprises (factory of concrete, quarries and others).

 THEY ARE UNBREAKABLY DESTROY the Public Health, ancient and connected with them natural environment (damage of public health with the combustion of waste and the production of dioxins, polder of stream with waste, pollution of sea, etc).

 WE REQUEST HELP TO STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF ENVIRONMENT AND THE MOST ANCIENT PERHAPS CITY OF EUROPE IN ANDROS !!!

 The INTERNATIONAL PROJECTION of Andros and HER ECONOMIC GROWTH, CAN support itself in the exploitation and projection of  HISTORY, CULTURE, and her natural ENVIRONMENT.