The whole uninhabited island of Polyaigos in the Aegean Sea was declared “an archaeological site” by the Culture Ministry, thus escaping alleged plans for the touristic development of the island which is located close to the islands of Kimolos and Milos.
It was the Hellenic Society for Environment and Culture (ELLET) that recently denounced moves that led to the conclusion that some kind of construction activity was underway in Polyaigos.
Trying to forestall developments, the organization called on the state not to approve any building permit for new construction, recalling that the uninhabited island is governed by a special urban planning and environmental regime. The owner of the land, however, claimed that his sole purpose was the restoration of an existing building, daily kathimerini.gr reported two days ago.
The special status of the island allows new construction on Polyaigos only for purposes of national defense, archaeology, scientific research or environmental protection.
ELLET warned that there was a construction permit application indicating that “something is brewing”. Recently, a coastline has been drawn, a characterization certificate has been issued by the forestry department and an archaeologist has conducted autopsies — all in the context of a building request.
The disputed 27-acre area belongs to the company Konsolina S.A., which is engaged in tourist development and real estate exploitation. Although the company’s president stated that this is only a restoration of an existing building for private use, ELLET denounced that there are dangerous construction plans for the island.
The declaration of the entire island of Polyaigos as an archaeological site followed the positive opinion of the Central Archaeological Council, is great news for the protection of the natural landscape of the Cycladic archipelagos.
The Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades based its recommendation for the declaration of Polyaigos on the results of the archaeological program Research of Cycladic Islands (EKYNI-Small Cycladic Islands Project), which was designed and implemented by the Ephorate in collaboration with The Norwegian Institute At Athens and Carleton College, exploring 90 uninhabited and inaccessible islets in the Cyclades.
Research on Polyaigos revealed extensive human presence on the island, from the Neolithic Period to more recent times. Chronologically, based on the pottery, all periods are represented, with the prehistoric, Roman, Byzantine, and modern periods being the most prominent.
The research result were reported on Thursday’s post by the Cyclades Antiquities Ephorate on Facebook, following yesterday’s discussion in the Central Archaeological Council on the issue of “Approval or non-approval of the declaration-delimitation: a) of the island of Polyaigos, Cyclades, as an archaeological site, b) the marine area of Sykia Bay on the southeast coast of the island of Polyaigos as an underwater archaeological site,” which received a positive opinion from the Central Archaeological Council.