keros

Keros is a small, uninhabited Greek island in the central Aegean Sea, part of the Cyclades. The island is largely rocky and sparsely vegetated and has no permanent resident population.

Keros is notable for its role in the study of Cycladic civilization. The Keros–Syros culture is an Early Bronze Age tradition named after Keros and the nearby island Syros. Archaeologists have recovered numerous artifacts on Keros that illuminate early Cycladic art and social organization.

In the mid-20th century, excavations on Keros uncovered the Keros Hoard, a large collection of marble figurines and ritual objects dating to the Early Bronze Age, roughly 2700–2300 BCE. The figurines are predominantly abstract female forms, with flat bodies, minimal facial features, and geometric proportions. Their original function is debated, but many scholars interpret them as votive offerings or ritual aids.

Today, the hoard's artifacts are dispersed across Greek and international museums, and the island is protected as an archaeological site. The Keros findings have influenced understanding of Cycladic sculpture and prehistory in the Aegean, and they continue to be the subject of scholarly study.