Younger Stone Age (Neolithic) and the first inhabitants of Kos

The first evidence of settlement on the island of Kos dates back to the Neolithic (Younger Stone Age) period, approximately 6,000-3,000 BC. These first settlers were probably hunters and gatherers who gradually began to develop agriculture. Archaeological finds in the form of stone tools and pottery attest to their presence and life.

However, the limited archaeological evidence from the earliest periods makes it difficult to pinpoint the 'first' inhabitants of Kos. Some historians suggest that the island may have been inhabited as early as the Palaeolithic (earlier Stone Age), but there is no direct evidence for this.

Bronze Age and Mycenaean culture

In the Bronze Age, around the 3rd millennium BC, the first organised settlements begin to appear on Kos, which testify to the development of agriculture and trade.

The island was influenced at this time by the arrival of the Mycenaeans, who were among the first major civilisations in the Aegean and brought with them advanced technology and architectural knowledge. The Mycenaeans left archaeological traces on the island testifying to their presence and influence. The Mycenaean period on Kos is reflected in the construction of fortified settlements and burial chambers, which indicate a hierarchical society.

During this period, Kos became an important commercial and cultural centre, thanks to its strategic location between mainland Greece and Asia Minor.

Doric colonisation (ca. 1 100 - 700 BC)

In the 11th century BC, the island was settled by the Dorians, a Greek tribe who brought their own cultural and religious traditions. The Dorians founded several settlements on the island and their arrival marked the beginning of the classical Greek period on Kos. The Dorians were very influential on the island and their presence shaped the culture and history of Kos in the centuries that followed.

The Dorians founded the city of Kos and established the island as part of the Doric hexapolis. Agriculture, especially wine and olive cultivation, developed significantly.

The first historically documented Greek settlement of the island thus came with the Doric colonisation.

Sights

Several archaeological sites and artefacts from the prehistoric period, especially from the Bronze Age, have been preserved on the island of Kos. Fewer archaeological sites from the Neolithic period remain, but some traces of settlement do exist.

The site of Aspri Petra: This prehistoric site is located in the cave of Aspri Petra near the town of Kefalos. Tools and pottery from the Neolithic period have been discovered here, suggesting that the cave was inhabited at this time.

Bronze Age and Mycenaean culture: Some Mycenaean burial chambers and other artefacts, which have been discovered in various places on the island, also date from the Bronze Age.

The ruins of Astypalaia: This is one of the main Doric settlements on the island of Kos, founded by the Dorians after their arrival on the island in the 11th century BC. Astypalaia was located near the present-day town of Kefalos.