Sailing the Aegean trade routes, Neolithic-style

The Aegean has been a sea of commerce ever since the dawn of the Neolithic Age, and obsidian was one of its most sought-after and valuable exports.

Found only on the islands of Milos, Antiparos and Nisyros, the tough volcanic rock was treasured by our Neolithic forbears because it was the perfect material for all those tasks that required sharp and durable tools. They used it to make blades, spearheads, axes and much more, which is why it was in such great demand even beyond the Aegean.

In fact, such blades discovered at Neolithic sites in mainland Greece (including Schisto and Argolida) were found from a string of scientific tests to have been made with obsidian from Milos.

The Neolithic islanders were nautical well before - 5,000 years, in fact - Pericles' Athenians and Themistocles' "wooden wall," and a couple of years ago a team of Czech archaeologists set...