The Island of Tenos and its Position in the Aegean Area as Expressed through the Study of Early-Byzantine Pottery from Chora

The ceramics uncovered during rescue excavations in the area known as Vary, in the modern settlement of Chora, Tenos—from which the ancient city connected with its port - provide important insights into the region’s history. The study demonstrates that this area formed part of a broader network of communication and exchange across the Mediterranean, and particularly within the Aegean, from the 4th to the late 7th century AD. Beyond the classification of pottery types, the findings present evidence regarding the use of the site and point to the existence of a settlement core in the wider area of the ancient city, Asty, specifically in Polis, during the early Byzantine period. These discoveries provide for the first time secure confirmation of habitation in the area during this period, strengthening earlier scattered indications. Furthermore, the study places this settlement in dialogue with current knowledge about other early Byzantine settlement centres on the island, primarily situated in the interior of its northern side and elsewhere. Within the framework of historical geography, an effort is made to correlate these centres with the broader landscape.