GREECE CENTRAL GREECE EVVIA CHALKIS MANIKA

Manika is a prehistoric settlement and cemetery of the Early Bronze Age (3000-1900 BC). The great prosperity of the settlement will have been due to the fact that it controlled the main sea-route of that time, the Euboian channel. In addition it transported and worked obsidian and especially metals to which it owed its remarkable development. It seems that Manika was in fact one of the largest settlements of the Bronze Age in Greece. - Perhaps even more important is the cemetery of which about 300 graves (out of estimated more than 5000) have been excavated.

But where is the site of which impressive photographs have been published? It must lie on a peninsula on the southern end of Nea Artaki but there is not a single of the Ministery's famous brown signs. Driving around and walking in the area during my visit in 2016 only brought to light a small overgrown fenced field and a sign of the Ministry, situated next to a boat builder's yard. Is that all that is left? Have all the excavations be refilled? Has the most part of the area been sold as private plots?

Above and below left: The saddening remains of a proud heritage, rubbish included. - Below right: View from Manika, the "prehistoric Chalkis" to modern Chalkida.