The island of Ikos (today's Alonissos) was known in antiquity for its viticulture and wine production, as were its neighboring islands of Skiathos (which retained its ancient name) and Peparithos (today's Skopelos). In fact, the latter held the scepter of this activity in the region of the Northern Sporades, as at least many ancient literary texts prove, from which we derive an important piece of information about the existence of wine export trade to the Black Sea from certain cities and islands allied to Athens, among which Peparithos is mentioned.
However, according to mainly archaeological evidence, it seems that Ikos also actively participated in this activity of exporting wine, both to the ancient cities of the Black Sea and to other regions of the ancient world. The only written evidence that informs us of the existence of extensive viticulture in Ikos belongs to late antiquity (end of the 2nd - beginning of the 3rd century AD) and is preserved by Philostratus in the work of Iroikos (8, 9-10). This author quotes a story about Hymnaeus, a Peparithian vintner, who owned the entire island of Ikos by himself, where he cultivated vines.
As he was digging, Hymnios in his vineyard found an older tomb, in which lay a "twelve-foot dead man" with a snake nestling in his skull...
Philostratus' information, although indirect, precisely emphasizes the importance of Ikos for viticulture. Even at that time, when it seems that there were no organized cities on the island, which may have been abandoned by its inhabitants, it was still a place for the production of grapes and obviously wine, even if this activity was carried out by a foreigner.
However, the archaeological evidence is clearer regarding the manufacture of amphorae for the export of wine from Ikos.
Important archaeological data emerges at the coastal sites of "Tsoukalia", "Kalamaki" and "Vamvakies" where amphora manufacturing workshops were discovered, which were filled with local wine and loaded onto commercial ships. In the bay "Tsoukalia" in particular, the sight of scattered amphorae and sealed handles with the inscription "IKION" (after all, these seals were the most important element for the identification of the ancient name of the island), which testify to an area of wine-producing activity, is impressive and the manufacture of amphorae intended for the export of local wine. Tsoukalia bay is located on the SW side of the island and is a form of natural harbor which could be used for the approach of ships and the direct loading of amphorae.
The area of the wine-producing activity is preserved in excellent condition, while the scattered broken pieces of vessels indicate the existence of extensive amphora manufacturing workshops, which were intended for the export of local wine. This volume of broken amphorae comes from the "repositories" of the workshop, i.e. the disposal areas for failed products, those that during their manufacture or firing in the kiln presented some defect that made them unfit for use. This multitude of failed amphorae gives us only a small idea of the enormous output that would have come from this workshop, one of many that would have existed at ancient Iko.
At the same time, remains of walls and constructions, as well as masses of burnt clay, are a serious indication that the rest of the workshop's facilities, as well as the ceramic kilns, were located in the same area.
The vessels that are scattered in the bay of "Tsoukalia" date mainly to the 4th century BC and are one of the oldest installations of this type in the Northern Aegean. The Amphora Pottery in Tsoukalia Bay is one of the best-preserved wine-making and local amphora-making workshops
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou