Melian Obsidian Distribution in the Aegean (c. 7000–2000 BCE)

1. Melos obsidian becomes a prized Aegean toolstone

   Jan 1, 7000 BCELabels: Melos Milos, Sta Nychia, Dhemenegaki

   • IME Obsidian
   • IME Franchthi

2. Regular seafaring links Melos to Franchthi

   Jan 1, 7000 BCELabels: Franchthi Cave, Melos Milos

   • IME Franchthi
   • Franchthi Cave

3. Cyclops Cave records obsidian in island lifeways

   Jan 1, 6500 BCELabels: Cyclops Cave, Youra Gioura

   • Cyclops Cave
   • IME Kythnos

4. Maroulas on Kythnos becomes a key waypoint

   Jan 1, 6500 BCELabels: Maroulas Kythnos

   • MAA Maroulas
   • IME Kythnos

5. Provenance research ties tools to Melos sources

   Jan 1, 6000 BCELabels: Provenance studies, Sta Nychia

   • IME Obsidian
   • PLOS Malia

6. Neolithic farming spreads alongside obsidian exchange

   Jan 1, 6000 BCELabels: Franchthi Cave, Neolithic farming

   • Franchthi Cave
   • IME Franchthi

7. Exchange routes broaden across the Aegean islands

   Jan 1, 5000 BCELabels: Aegean islands

   • Cycladic Museum
   • IME Obsidian

8. Coastal “nodal” sites channel obsidian to Anatolia

   Jan 1, 4000 BCELabels: Liman Tepe, Bakla Tepe

   • JAS Reports

9. Metallurgy arrives, but obsidian remains important

   Jan 1, 3200 BCELabels: Metallurgy, obsidian blades

   • Cycladic EBA
   • IME Obsidian

10. Early Bronze Age sees strong maritime trade growth

    Jan 1, 2700 BCELabels: Early Bronze, maritime trade

    • Cycladic EBA

11. Melian obsidian peaks in parts of western Anatolia

    Jan 1, 2500 BCELabels: Western Anatolia, Melian obsidian

    • JAS Reports

12. Late Neolithic changes close the main timeline window

    Jan 1, 2000 BCELabels: Late Neolithic, Bronze Age

    • IME Obsidian
    • Cycladic EBA