Schematic 'Violin' Figurine at The British Museum, London

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The significant Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Cycladic culture is renowned for its simplified flat female idols carved from the islands' pristine white marble centuries prior to the emergence of the impressive Middle Bronze Age culture in Crete, located to the south. These figurines have been stolen from burials to satisfy the Cycladic antiquities market since the early 20th century. Only about 40% of the 1,400 figurines discovered are of known origin, as looters destroyed evidence of the rest. A distinctive Neolithic culture blending Anatolian and mainland Greek elements arose in the western Aegean before 4000 BC, based on emmer wheat and wild-type barley, sheep and goats, pigs, and tuna that were apparently speared from small boats. Excavated sites include Saliagos and Kephala (on Keos), which showed signs of copper-working. Each of the small Cycladic islands could support no more than a few thousand people, although Late Cycladic boat models demonstrate that fifty oarsmen could be assembled from the scattered communities. When the highly organized palace-culture of Crete emerged, the islands faded into insignificance, with the exception of Delos, which retained its archaic reputation as a sanctuary throughout the period of Classical Greek civilization. The chronology of Cycladic civilization is divided into three major sequences: Early, Middle, and Late Cycladic. The early period, beginning around 3000 BC, segued into the archaeologically murkier Middle Cycladic around 2500 BC. By the end of the Late Cycladic sequence (around 2000 BC), there was essential convergence between Cycladic and Minoan civilization. The first archaeological excavations of the 1880s were followed by systematic work by the British School at Athens and by Christos Tsountas, who investigated burial sites on several islands in 1898-99 and coined the term "Cycladic civilization." Interest then lagged, but picked up in the mid-20th century, as collectors competed for the modern-looking figures that seemed so similar to sculpture by Jean Arp or Constantin Brâncuși. Sites were looted, and a brisk trade in forgeries arose. The context for many of these Cycladic Figurines has thus been mostly destroyed; their meaning may never be completely understood. Another intriguing and mysterious object is the Cycladic frying pans. Early Cycladic culture evolved in three phases, between around 3300 and 2000 BC, when it was increasingly submerged in the rising influence of Minoan Crete. Excavations at Knossos on Crete reveal an influence of Cycladic civilization upon Knossos in the period 3400 BC to 2000 BC as evidenced from pottery finds at Knossos. This object is part of "Scan The World." Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open-source, community effort; if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help. Scanned: Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)