Akrotiri (prehistoric city)
Excavation of Akrotiri in 2018 | |
Akrotiri Shown within Greece | |
| Location | Santorini, Greece |
|---|---|
| Region | Aegean sea |
| Coordinates | 36°21′05″N 25°24′13″E / 36.35139°N 25.40361°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 5000–4001 BCE |
| Abandoned | 16th century BCE |
| Cultures | Cycladic |
| Events | Theran eruption |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | since 1967 |
| Condition | Ruins |
Akrotiri (Greek: Ακρωτήρι, pronounced Greek: [akroˈtiri]) is a Cycladic Bronze Age settlement site on the volcanic Greek island of Santorini. The name comes from the nearby village of Akrotiri.
The settlement was destroyed during the Theran eruption sometime in the 16th century BC, and was buried in volcanic ash, which helped preserve its fine frescoes. Akrotiri has been excavated since 1967, after earlier excavations on the island.