Greek island of Kea pays tribute to American archaeologist Miriam Caskey
The northern Cycladic island of Kea (Tzia) recently paid tribute to American archaeologist Miriam Caskey for her contribution to the excavation of Aghia Irini, a key stopping point on trade routes across the Aegean Sea during the Bronze Age, ekathimerini.com notes in the following report.
“We were a team, the archaeologists and the local workers. But your fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers brought knowledge of the ground and had a lot to teach the American archaeologists who had just taken their noses out of their books,” Caskey pointed out at a ceremony at the Folklore Museum of Kea in Mylopotamos in September.
Caskey initially came to Greece on a scholarship in 1955 and hasn’t left since. She was married to John Caskey, the former director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens who discovered the site at Aghia Irini and led excavations there from 1960 – a pivotal time for the island – until his death in 1981.
In 1957, Tzia had witnessed the shutdown of a factory that for 30 years had produced enamel tableware and army helmets – its 45-meter chimney in Korissia is listed as a historical monument. Shortly before that, a coal trading business where steam ships would stop to refuel had also folded. These two closures, among other factors, prompted a wave of immigration from the island, as people searched for work elsewhere.
The arrival of the American archaeological team came like a breath of fresh air for the cash-strapped, jobless islanders. Apart from the money the Americans spent on accommodation and food, they also employed carpenters, welders, guards and other workers to assist at the site. And come Saturday, the workers were handed an envelope with their name on it – a rare courtesy – with their week’s wages and possibly a small bonus, if the dig had yielded a particularly exciting find.
Many of the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those workers attended the event to honor Caskey, who stood between her grandson Aris and her great-granddaughter Athena as she recounted stories from her life and her memories of Tzia well before it became the upscale holiday island it is currently.
Hailing from Philadelphia, Caskey went on to study archaeology and in World War II got a pilot’s license, taught air force pilots meteorology, folded parachutes, worked at an aircraft repair base and did anything else she could. “We all learned a lot from the war,” she remembered.
She spoke of the pale pink light of dawn as she saw Piraeus for the first time following an 11-day journey on the liner Olympia with her daughter Helen on September 20, 1955, working at the Ancient Agora and publishing a paper on the Myconos Vase, falling in love with Tzia and building a home there, and working on the rare clay statues that came to light at Aghia Irini, which were “unlike anything found anywhere else.”
She also remembered how there was only one telephone on the entire island at the time, and how old caiques were more reliable than the new ferry boats for sailing from the mainland port of Lavrio. She described the incarceration of the leaders of the 1967-74 military dictatorship at the island’s only big hotel and how the port of Aghios Nikolaos was barricaded by warships. Mainly she spoke of the locals’ anticipation of finally seeing the finds that were brought to light – with their help in some cases – in a special section of the Archaeological Museum of Kea that is currently being prepared by the Greek Archaeological Service.
Caskey also spoke of her future plans, saying she would like to see the names of all the excavation workers be included on the plaque that will be set up in the new exhibition area to honor their contribution. She is also planning to keep studying and writing about Aghia Irini.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Joy Coffman License: CC-BY-SA
- 1) Exhibition of ancient cultures from Basilicata opens at Athens Acropolis Museum
- 2) Traditional Greek Costumes show:“From Avgi to the present: the clothes narrate”
- 3) Acropolis Museum to mark European Days of Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage
- 4) Work to prepare unique Doxipara-Zoni burials museum for visitors progressing fast
19/11 01:16
Calls for mass participation in Greece's general strike on Wednesday
19/11 01:08
37th Panorama of European Cinema from November 21-27 at four theaters in Athens
18/11 22:27
Greek Development Minister meets with Italian counterpart in Rome
18/11 21:20
Prime Minister: Greece to repay additional 5 billion euros early in 2025
14/11 22:23
PM: The first time Greece gets an organised prevention & public health programme
14/11 22:19
Minister: AI will speed up transactions for investors on Greece's land registry
14/11 22:16
High security measures in Athens for Polytechnic uprising anniversary on Sunday
14/11 22:08
Aegean Air posts consolidated net revenues of €1.38 billion in first nine months
14/11 11:27
The Federation of Cypriot American Organizations held its National Convention
14/11 01:11
Blood drive at 'Syntagma' Square Athens Metro station for road traffic victims on Saturday
13/11 23:58
Greece's Sky Express expands Athens-Istanbul connection with direct flights
13/11 21:05
AEGEAN Air expands Thessaloniki’s reach with New Amsterdam route
13/11 15:54
13/11 01:17
Media report: Greece will end property purchase option for Golden Visas
12/11 00:35
Three-day events commemorating Athens Polytechnic uprising commence on Friday
11/11 22:45
Prime Minister: Greek-US relations are strategic and based on mutual interest
11/11 13:29
11/11 11:15
Tourism | City breaks, artificial intelligence and solo travel the dominant trends in 2025
08/11 00:42
Greece's Metlen firm investing in five Alberta-based solar energy projects
07/11 23:20
Greece's company Metlen investing in five Alberta-based solar energy projects
07/11 23:08
Enterprise Greece, SEV and other firm associations organising business mission to Milan
07/11 22:04
Greek Alternate Finance Minister attends Toronto Economic Forum
07/11 20:11
07/11 18:55
Minimum wage bill in Greece is posted online for public consultation until November 21
07/11 00:43
Road tax bills for 2025 posted in Greece with deadline on December 31
06/11 15:16
Prime Minister: I am certain that Greek-American relations will stay strong
06/11 11:13
05/11 00:47
Minister: Everyone must continue the effort to reduce retail prices in Greece
04/11 23:37
Salamis Shipyards delivers the first two Island-type patrol vessels in Greece
04/11 23:28
More than 3,000 applicants for Greek citizenship sit for language certification examinations
04/11 23:14
Greek Youth Symphony Orchestra makes its debut at Carnegie Hall
04/11 23:09
3rd International Conference on Ancient Greek and Byzantine Tech in Athens on November 19-21
04/11 23:08
04/11 22:03
Ticket prices announced for buses and new metro in Thessaloniki city
30/10 22:45
Greek Climate Crisis Minister offers aid to Spanish people after deadly flooding
30/10 22:35
Joint firm for Thriasio II freight complex greenlighted by Competition Commission
30/10 22:31
Athens International Airport records 9.8% revenue hike during Q1-Q3 2024
30/10 22:31
Sub-concession deal inked for Mega Yachts Marina in Greek island of Corfu
30/10 21:39
Greek government investing in supply chains to transform national economy
30/10 00:31
Passenger ferry 'Aghia Theodora' safely in Igoumenitsa Port after running aground
30/10 00:31
Government spokesperson: Greece's 'brain gain' wager appears to have been won
30/10 00:28
Greek supermarket prices for 362 product codes to fall from 5% to 24%
29/10 23:41
29/10 17:18
Greek and German Presidents visit site of future Holocaust Museum in Thessaloniki
25/10 15:07
More than 4.000 participations from 28 countries in 63 activities at Navarino Challenge 2024
23/10 22:29
Greece's PPC successfully issues new 7-year bond raising 600 million euros
23/10 22:14
23/10 20:17
23/10 19:26
European Commission greenlights €40 million for flood prevention works in Athens
23/10 11:22
Grecce's SNF supports relief efforts after Hurricanes in the Southeastern U.S.
22/10 21:48
IMF expects Greek economy to grow by 2.3% in 2024 and 2% during 2025
22/10 21:46
Minister: Ticket prices for new Thessaloniki metro to be announced shortly
22/10 21:37
Greek Shipping Minister: A new 'maritime' Egnatia will open up new prospects
22/10 21:31
Transport Minister visits FlyOver project site in Greek city of Thessaloniki
22/10 21:25
Increased tourist traffic in Greece during the period January-August 2024
21/10 21:23
Prime Minister: Greece's economy on irreversible path to recovery
21/10 19:19
Greek FinMin: Plan to utilize Hellenic Public Properties at implementation phase
21/10 18:00
21/10 09:16
European Union Commissioner inaugurates creation of 'Trusted Investors Network'
18/10 23:09
Exhibition of ancient cultures from Basilicata opens at Athens Acropolis Museum
17/10 19:13
Enterprise Greece: 121 firms showcase environmentally friendly fashion at global shows
17/10 18:18
Ticket price of 2 euros for cinema festival throughout Greece on October 31
17/10 14:34
Prime Minister: Greece has been very effective in dealing with illegal migration
17/10 13:22
Traditional Greek Costumes show:“From Avgi to the present: the clothes narrate”
17/10 12:21
16/10 22:23
Greek Development Minister meets Indiana Governor and US Ambassador
16/10 22:15
Greek PM sees overtourism problem only in Mykonos and Santorini
16/10 22:10
16/10 21:59
Greek Cartoon Museum at 'Kapnergostasio' historic building set up in Athens
16/10 19:12
Aegean Airlines expands direct flights between Thessaloniki and Kalamata in Greece
15/10 21:19
Greek PM: Our goal is to increase revenues and not just tourist numbers
15/10 19:46
Greek Energy Minister holds talks in Egypt on electricity connection
15/10 19:26
15/10 18:34
New Attica Transportation Strategic Plan will reshape the Region
15/10 16:44
UK Ambassador to Athens: Greece's role is of strategic significance
15/10 15:49
Greece's finance ministry reveals four main changes introduced by new tax bill
14/10 23:04
Minister: Luxury tourism can upgrade quality of Greek tourist product
14/10 13:01
Greek Infrastructure and Transport Minister: 35 new buses in Attica
14/10 12:54
WTTC | Business travel to surpass pre-pandemic levels at US$1.5 trillion in 2024
14/10 11:48
11/10 22:39
Acropolis Museum to mark European Days of Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage
09/10 23:26
Minister: More than 2,000 Greeks abroad registered on Rebrain Greece Platform
09/10 23:23
Italgas to invest 1 bln euros in Greece by 2030 based on new strategic plan
09/10 23:22
FinMin: The upgrade of the Athens Stock Exchange is excellent news for Greece
09/10 20:14
Fraport Greece announces schedule of shutdowns to upgrade regional airport runways
09/10 17:30
Greek government spokesperson highlights positive economic outlook for 2025
09/10 01:43
October electricity bill subsidies to support vulnerable consumers in Greece
09/10 01:41
Enterprise Greece: Four Greek wineries at ProWine Latin America 2024
09/10 01:31
Three-week deadline for Greek taxi drivers to install payment card signage
08/10 18:22
AEGEAN air passenger traffic surpasses 12.5 million in first nine months of 2024
08/10 16:31
Report: Networking and career opportunities for foreign students in Cyprus and Greece
07/10 21:54
Media: U.S. Ambassador to Athens is a Champion of Study Abroad Endeavors
07/10 21:44
Universities of Tennessee and Athens to promote academic collaboration
07/10 20:36
07/10 15:49
Government: Bad loans in Greece fell to 7.5% in March 2024 from 40% in 2019
06/10 00:40
03/10 22:15
Commercial activity at Keramoti port in Greece suspended to alleviate congestion
03/10 22:08
Finance Minister: Record privatizations benefiting Greek citizens in long run
03/10 22:05
Stavros Niarchos Foundation recognized at 2024 International Opera Awards
03/10 22:04
Commercial operation of the Alexandroupolis LNG Terminal beginning today
37th Panorama of European Cinema from November 21-27 at four theaters in Athens
Prime Minister: Greece to repay additional 5 billion euros early in 2025
Greek Development Minister meets with Italian counterpart in Rome
Calls for mass participation in Greece's general strike on Wednesday
High security measures in Athens for Polytechnic uprising anniversary on Sunday
The Federation of Cypriot American Organizations held its National Convention
Aegean Air posts consolidated net revenues of €1.38 billion in first nine months
Minister: AI will speed up transactions for investors on Greece's land registry
Blood drive at 'Syntagma' Square Athens Metro station for road traffic victims on Saturday
PM: The first time Greece gets an organised prevention & public health programme
Turkey denies allowing Lord Elgin take Parthenon Marbles off Athens Acropolis
Media report: Greece will end property purchase option for Golden Visas
Seven new hotels with 5,000 beds to be constructed by Costa Navarino in Greece
Enterprise Greece: 121 firms showcase environmentally friendly fashion at global shows
Greece's Sky Express expands Athens-Istanbul connection with direct flights
AEGEAN Air expands Thessaloniki’s reach with New Amsterdam route
Prime Minister: Greek-US relations are strategic and based on mutual interest
Tourism | City breaks, artificial intelligence and solo travel the dominant trends in 2025
Three-day events commemorating Athens Polytechnic uprising commence on Friday
Greece's Metlen firm investing in five Alberta-based solar energy projects
Prime Minister: Greece will finally have a land registry in 2025
Greece's company Metlen investing in five Alberta-based solar energy projects
Prime Minister: I am certain that Greek-American relations will stay strong