Ancient Habitation Patterns of Keos. The Northern Part of the East Side of the Island

Abstract

This paper covers the second stage of research into the inhabitation of Kea in the ancient times. The first stage was published in Ariadni, V. 3, 1985, pp. 207-266. Observations have now been supplemented in relation to the ancient settlements in the area investigated, which more or less corresponds to that of the land of Ioulis. Particular attention was paid to the density of sherds and to the extent of the locations in which they were found. It was concluded that the pattern of human occupation of the island was: cities - villages - isolated dwellings. An attempt was made to formulate a system of assumptions which would correlate the frequency of sherds and the extent of their positions with the area and number of dwellings and inhabitants. By applying these assumptions, it proved possible to form a picture of the level and distribution of the population of the state of Ioulis and, by extension, of the island as a whole, principally during the historical period.
It emerged that during the Archaic period there were 10 villages and a small number of isolated dwellings. The total population of the region was 1,750 or 2,150 when the inhabitants of the city are added to this figure (360 free adult males). This corresponds to a population of 8,600 - 9,000 for the island as a whole. All the other facts (geographical, archaeological, historical, demographic) were examined and do not conflict with this conclusion. The population seems to have been evenly distributed, and the density can be calculated at 1:11,000 m2. It was also concluded, incidentally, that Ioulis had its port at Kastri bay.
During the Classical period, there seems to have been a uniform increase in all magnitudes -that is, in the number of settlements, the number of isolated dweilings and the total population, with the hinterland holding a slight advantage. The total population of the city-state rose to 2,450 and of the island to 10,000 or perhaps slightly more. At this time, the state acquired its first system of defence, which relied on fortification of the city and a coastal settlement, on small forts to protect the dwellings outside the villages, and on guard posts to control access from such beaches as were suitable for landings. The other villages were unfortified. This network of defences was completed in the Hellenistic period, which followed.
During the Hellenistic period all the magnitudes fell, the role of isolated dwellings became more important and inland areas were preferred to coastal sites. The total population of the city-state seems to have been slightly under 1,900 and that of the island to have been around 7,800 (in 1951 it was 7,600).
This fall in the population continued during the Roman period, when the isolated dwellings became still more important and coastal sites were all but deserted. The population of the city-state was 1,550 at this time, and of the island 6,400.