Koufonisia

The Greek island of Pano Koufonisi (Greek Πάνω Κουφονήσι (n. sg. ), Upper - Koufonisi ') belongs to the archipelago of the Lesser Ostkykladen. Together with twelve other islands and rock islands forms Pano Koufonisi the district ( gr Dimotiki enotita ) Koufonisia within the Municipality of Naxos and Small Cyclades. Capital of the island is 399 the same place Koufonisi.

Location

Pano Koufonisi is located about 4 km southeast of Naxos, 22 km north-west of Amorgos and more than 22 km southwest of Donousa. By about 400 m and a maximum of 8 m deep narrow Strait of Koufonisi ( Στενό Κουφονησιού ) Pano Koufonisi is separated from the south -lying island Kato Koufonisi. The also uninhabited island Glaronisi is about 1200 meters south, Keros about 3.8 km to the southeast.

The sea area between Pano Koufonisi, Kato Koufonisi and Keros was called in ancient times as Kophos Limin ( ' Κωφὸς Λιμὴν ').

History

On Pano Koufonisi tombs of the Bronze Age Cycladic civilization of the third millennium BC have been found archaeologically in three places. In Alonistra Chousouri, Tsavaris and Agrilia graves were explored archaeologically in 1970.

Pano Koufonisi came after the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade for Venetian Duchy of Archipelagos, which was founded in 1207 by Marco Sanudo. After the fleet Chaireddin Barbarossa had captured Naxos began Ottoman rule. The island offered shelter during the Ottoman period pirates.

With the London Protocol of 1829 Pano Koufonisi was like the other Cyclades islands part of the new Greek state. During the Second World War the island was first occupied then from 1941 to 1943 in Italy and until 1944 by the German Wehrmacht.

According to the 2011 census, 391 inhabitants lived in the same harbor and 8 in the northeastern coastal town of Finikas. The main economic activities are fishing, the only sparse agriculture and the now flourishing tourism.

Archeology

Located near the main town of the island is located at Agrilia one of the largest cemeteries of the Cyclades culture, but was also used at least 100 years longer than 200 years. The cemetery is Agrilia for the correct time classification of the Campos group as an intermediate link in the Grotta - Pelos culture ( FK I) and the Keros -Syros culture ( FK II) is considered particularly important. Although severely damaged by illegal digs, 72 of at least 92 tombs of the necropolis were investigated archaeologically. The tombs are different from the previously known stone cist graves of the Cyclades. It is carved into the stone chamber tombs, which are separated by a smaller antechamber by a plate. The exceptional architecture and grave grave goods such as foot rests and bowls have parallels with the burial site of Agia Photia in northeastern Crete. While the antechambers of the graves on the Cycladic Campos group contained no grave goods found in Agia Photia in one case, a foot rest. In addition, were found on Crete metal objects frequently. In the cemetery of Agrilia the earliest occurrence of long daggers could be detected in the Cyclades.

Conservation

Pano Koufonisi is part of the Natura 2000 area GR4220013 Mikres Kyklades: Irakleia, Schoinoussa, Koufonisia, Keros, Antikeri kai thal assia zoni ( Μικρές Κυκλάδες: από Κέρο μέχρι Ηράκλεια, Σχοινούσσα, Κουφονήσια, Κέρος, Αντικέρι και θαλάσσια ζώνη ).