The Ministry of Culture is launching the development and promotion of the ancient acropolis on the hill of Agios Georgios at Fournoi Korseon, in order to create infrastructure for the protection and provision of services to visitors of the archaeological site.

Based on the study for the promotion of the site, prepared by the competent Ephorate of Antiquities, which received the positive opinion of the Central Archaeological Council, a safe and accessible area is created, so that the visitor understands the importance of the ancient monuments and the beauty of the landscape. The earliest reference to the islands of Corsea, known to date from the sources, is found in the archaic historian and geographer Ecateus of Miletus (560-480 BC), who identifies their geographical location as ‘Corseai – the island of Ionia opposite Samos’. The safe identification of the islands with the ancient Korsiae was based on an inscription of the 4th century BC on a marble rock at the top of the hill of the acropolis of Agios Georgios.

The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, said: “The site of the ancient acropolis of Fournoi, the largest island of the island complex of Fournoi Korseon, is located on the rocky hill of Agios Georgios, a short distance from the modern settlement. The fortified site on Ai Giorgis has direct visual contact with the tower of Drakanos on Ikaria and with the fort on Kastraki Hill, in Agathonisi, Dodecanese. The three forts, including the tower at Chrysomilia, in Fournoi, seem to have belonged to a network of forts and fortifications that guarded the sea routes of the Aegean. The archaeological site is in a poor state of preservation, both because of abandonment over many centuries and because of present-day factors – man-made and otherwise – such as continuous grazing and stone mining. The archaeological site, in addition to building and structural problems, faces significant operational obstacles, which concern its accessibility. Despite the fact that the monument is of considerable archaeological, architectural, historical and didactic value for the region, little action has been taken, mainly for its protection and promotion. Due to the intense and rocky terrain, the dense vegetation and the absence of walking routes in the area, access is extremely difficult. The landscaping interventions include the conservation and promotion of the ancient remains, the protection of which will be based on a special conservation study, the construction of a basic tour route with stopping places and the placement of information material for the information of visitors, which will allow a better reading of the archaeological site as an ancient fortress”.

The entrance to the archaeological site is through a small paved path outside the enclosure to the north, in close proximity to the church of Agios Georgios. The site is roughly fenced with barbed wire and dry stone walls, some of which were formed as a continuation of the walls of the Archaic and Hellenistic enclosure and show signs of dilapidation. Within the enclosure, the existing configurations are limited to some stone retaining walls to create the church courtyard. The greater area of the archaeological site is essentially undeveloped, with rocky terrain and wild vegetation. The main damage is caused by the overlaying of layers, uncontrolled vegetation, the collapse of ancient structures and the loss and destruction of ancient building material. The damage is exacerbated by the weather conditions.

The primary objective of the study is to create the basic infrastructure for the protection and visitor accessibility of the archaeological site, a safe and accessible place. The study focuses on:

1. The protection and demarcation of the archaeological site through the construction of a new perimeter fence with a new entrance at the point where the dirt road leading to the site ends,
2. The preservation and promotion of the ancient relics and the important inscriptions on the rocks, so that they are legible to the ordinary visitor,
3. The creation of a basic tour route, surrounded by the necessary rest and rest areas, a prerequisite for easy and safe access for visitors,
4. The selective placement of information material to inform visitors. After the cleaning and excavation works, the necessary works for the drainage of the site will be carried out, where necessary.

The earliest known human presence in Fournoi so far probably dates back to the Neolithic period. In Hellenistic times, a fortified settlement (acropolis) with a military station seems to have been organized on the rocky top of the hill. On the plateau of the summit and on the western side of the hill, a 2 m high wall is preserved, while a staircase with terraces carved into the natural rock leads to the upper hill. The path that exists today on this slope and leads from the modern settlement to the top of the hill probably shows the course of the ancient road leading to the citadel. The source of information about this fortification is the inscriptions on the vertical faces of the marble rock. This unique set of inscriptions is of great importance for the history of the island. The first investigations of the Archaeological Service in the Acropolis were carried out in 1981. From 2015 to date, a team of Greek and American scientists has identified 58 ancient, medieval and modern shipwrecks in the sea, dating from the 6th century BC to the 20th century, a unique find in the Aegean area.