Akrotiri, Santorini: the "Minoan Pompeii" - part 1

by Rachel de Carlos

Excavations at Akrotiri, Santorini. Copyright 2009 Rachel de Carlos

As in Pompeii, the volcanic covering of the archeological site at Akrotiri on Santorini, has kept an ancient settlement from disintegrating over time. The site was found by accident when the Suez Canal was being constructed in 1860. Workers quarrying Santorini's volcanic ash discovered the ruins, but serious excavations at the site didn't begin until 1967. An unfortunate collapse of the roof in 2005, which