KYTHERA, Diakophti - 2004

Diakophti, Chousti Cave. A. Tsaravopoulos (Β’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports that excavation inside the cave revealed evidence of activity from the Final Neolithic period to the Early Bronze Age, and of re-use as a shrine (to an unidentified deity) from Classical to Roman times. With a brief break in the Early Byzantine period, the ceramic record continued into Late Byzantine times. Finds include a clay tablet with incised letters for the teaching of writing.

Outside the cave, just to the right of the entrance, were the foundations of a large rectangular Early Bronze Age building. A limekiln lay to the left of the entrance. On a terrace to the north of the entrance, cut into bedrock, were basins (and groups of smaller hollows within a clearly defined area). Hellenistic rooftiles confirm that the area was roofed. The few finds associated with the rock cuttings date to the Hellenistic period and indicate that the area was a shrine to an agricultural deity.