On the hill of Kamalafka, at the summit of Agios Andreas, is the only organized archaeological site on Siphnos, namely that of the acropolis of Agios Andreas. In operation since 2010, its development and promotion were co-financed through the Ministry of Culture’s Operational Programme Culture, and by the European Regional Development Fund, from 2002 to 2008. For its exemplary organization and promotion achieved, it received an award from the European Commission Europa Nostra 2010.
The archaeological site operates with a full suite of infrastructure – a public reception and an Exhibition Hall, which contains visual materials and digital applications. The Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades usually organizes special guided tours during the summer months. Musical and other events are regularly organized, in collaboration with other cultural organizations, in front of the Acropolis Walls, traditionally during the Full Moon of August.
Research into the Hill of St. Andreas was begun in 1898 by the archaeologist Christos Tsountas. In the 1970s, the Sifnian archaeologist Dr. Varvara Filippaki, an officer of the archaeological service, began systematic research there under the auspices of the Archaeological Society of Athens. These lasted a decade, under adverse conditions.
From 1997 to the present, systematic research has continued under the same auspices of the Archaeological Society of Athens, now with the direction of Dr. Christina Televantou, an officer of the then Archaeological Service, and their gradual publication is being prepared.
The acropolis of Agios Andreas
(note: Every building is conventionaly named by a letter of the Greek Alphabet )
Human activity has been documented on the hilltop since at least the end of the 4th millennium BC. There may have been a small settlement from the end of the Neolithic/early Bronze Age.
Based on the evidence available so far, the foundation of the strongly fortified acropolis dates to the Mycenaean Age, at the end of the 13th/beginning of the 12th centuries BC. The prehistoric habitation continued until the middle of the 11th century BC; after a long abandonment of about three centuries, it was re-inhabited in historical times, in the 8th century BC. It flourished at least until the end of the 6th century BC, while the sanctuary, also founded in the 8th century BC, continued to function until the Hellenistic years.
The fortifications were built in several phases. Initially, the inner Cyclopean wall was erected with a series of small square bastions (β-η, θ, ί, λ), a semicircular one (κ) and two other angular ones (μ and κ), as well as three Gates, two secondary ones I (northwest side) and II (southern side) and the main III (eastern side). Of these, Gate I (η) and Gate III (κ) are protected on one side by bastions. Later, the inner wall was reinforced with Tower A and the outer wall was constructed, creating a very deep ditch between them.
The acropolis is densely built-up, with roads branching out in all directions; two lead to the two secondary Gates I and II.
The buildings of the Mycenaean residential phase are located below the buildings of the historical period and are therefore located only in places where the excavation proceeded to a great depth: Houses E and H, the oldest phase of Building I, perhaps the small single-room buildings K 1 and 2, as well as the oldest walls in House C and Building Complex A.
After the Mycenaean abandonment, the buildings fell into ruin and a large part of the walls collapsed, filling the ditch with boulders. During the Geometric Period, in about the middle of the 8th century BC, the area became desirable again and suitable for a permanent, safe settlement. The fortification was repaired, the filled ditch was turned into a road, the old Mycenaean buildings (e.g. I) were repaired or rebuilt, or new ones were built, such as in Sector N, organized with roads around its contemporary Late Geometric sanctuary. All the buildings of the acropolis were inhabited until the end of the Archaic period (e.g. L, P, O, Y), while activities are to be observed until the Hellenistic years (e.g. in A and K).
Unfortunately, to this day the ancient name of the Acropolis has not been identified. Given that the sources initially attest to three cities in Siphnos with the names Apollonia, Minoa and Siphnos, and that ancient Siphnos has been identified epigraphically, logically its name should be sought among the first two candidates.
