They made a boat exclusively from papyrus, an aquatic plant which can be found near water areas of Greece ( as well as on the river Nile in Egypt). A similar boat was used until recently in Kerkyra (photo on the left). The "papyrela" could easily travel from Lavrion to Milos. Its crew would use kayak oars for navigation.

It has also been proven that men in the Greek prehistoric period could travel by sea using natural material offered by the domestic world of Greece and also using simple techniques such as the one of straw mats.

The greatest problem for the study not only of the prehistoric period but also of more recent civilization periods, is the coastal formation of the country, which has changed dramatically. Apart from the rise of sea levels, there have also been destructive earthquakes, volcanic explosions and the sinking of large pieces of land. As a result, most of the evidence for prehistoric civilization stages in the Aegean area can now only be found in the sea and actually in great depths.

Bearing that in mind, the excavations’ finds we have today from Adamantios Sampson on the island of Gioura are very important, not only because they confirm but because they also complete the findings of the area of Frachthi.

Adamantios Sampson is famous for his research on the prehistory of the Dodecannese (excavations on the island of Gyali in Nisyros – a source of "obsidian"; study titled "The Neolithic Period in the Dodecannese"), of Evoia (Cave of Skoteini Tharounia), the very important excavation in Manika of Chalkida, the prehistoric research in caves of Achaia and Kopaida e.t.c. Today he is the supervisor of the Inspectorate for Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of the Cyclades.

The excavation in the Cyclops’ Cave started in 1992. It is a very demanding search since Gioura is a deserted island and the excavation team is obliged to live under severe conditions for lengthy periods of time.

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