Kokkino Vouno, the steep pyroclastic hill located above the chapel of Agios Nikolaos and at a short distance from the archaeological site of Akrotiri, was known to archaeological research from the single-day excavation conducted by Spyridon Marinatos in 1968 (see Proceedings of the Archaeological Society at Athens 1968 and Excavations at Thera II of the same year), as well as from a limited number of surface finds collected over the years by Christos Doumas and Andreas Vlachopoulos (see A. Vlachopoulos, “Kokkino Vouno: a purlieu of the urban centre at Akrotiri ”, ALS. Periodical Publication of the Society for the Support of Prehistoric Thera, Issue 8, 2012 (2019), pp. 154–170). The presence of diagnostic surface finds dating to the Late Cycladic I period—including fragments of wall paintings, pottery, stone artifacts, pieces of copper, and mineral specimens—together with the exceptionally strategic location of the hill for overseeing the southern part of the island and the coasts of Thera, controlling the southbound maritime routes, and providing visibility extending as far as the northern coast and mountain ranges of Crete, formed the basis for the Interdisciplinary Surface Survey Project at Kokkino Vouno. The project commenced in 2024, with fieldwork conducted from 1–15 July and the study of the recovered material from 8–15 September. The 2024 investigations on the summit and slopes of Kokkino Vouno included the following:

1. Systematic Geophysical Survey of the Accessible Areas of Kokkino Vouno Using Magnetic Prospection.

The survey was undertaken and completed by Professor Emeritus of Geology Gregoris Tsokas (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki).

2. Topographical Survey of the Hill by Surveying Engineer Dionysios Niotis (National Technical University of Athens)

For the purposes of the surface survey, the area accessible for investigation (the summit and slopes of the hill) was divided into a survey grid marked on the ground with semi-permanent markers. The principal grid consisted of 50 × 50 m squares, each containing 10 × 10 m sub-squares. In addition, points of interest identified digitally by the Laboratory of Applied Geophysics of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki were marked on the ground. Aerial photographs covering the entire area of interest were acquired for the production of orthophotomaps at various scales (1:50–1:1000). Natural and anthropogenic landscape features were recorded to facilitate an accurate overview of the study area and their faithful representation in plans. Elevation data were also collected to ensure the precise depiction of the area's geomorphology. The project greatly benefited from cadastral data provided by Ktimatologio S.A. (Hellenic Cadastre) following the issuance of a special permit authorizing their use for university researchfig. 1).

Throughout the surface survey, both horizontal and vertical coordinates of the finds were recorded under the direction of the archaeological research team.

3. Systematic Identification and Recording of Surface Remains at Kokkino Vouno

Taking into consideration safe access—particularly due to the steep eastern and western slopes of the hill—the gridded area of 50 × 50 m squares was further subdivided into 10 × 10 m units. These were systematically walked by a team of five researchers at 2 m intervals, following standard archaeological surface survey protocols (Image 2a , Image 2b). The 2024 survey team consisted of archaeology students from the University of Ioannina, Ioanna Spanou and Stelios Stefanou, together with archaeology graduates G. Varsanis, A. Xenaki, and M. Chalari. 

 Data collection was carried out using tablets and the KoboToolbox software platform, a flexible system that allows the creation of customized recording forms and the secure online storage of data. Three recording forms were developed for the project:

- In situ artifact recording form, documenting the location of each object, its spatial relationship to the Marinatos excavation trench, GPS coordinates, and photographs.

- Anthropogenic landscape intervention recording form, documenting human- made modifications to the landscape (such as rock-cut surfaces), including their spatial relationship to the Marinatos trench, coordinates, and in situ photographs.

- Laboratory artifact recording form, containing detailed information on each object, including its description, decoration, cleaning and conservation treatments, storage location within the Akrotiri Excavation Pottery Laboratory, chronological attribution, references to comparable material, descriptions of laboratory analyses, photographs, and drawings following conservation. 

Following data collection, the two forms relating to portable artifacts (field and laboratory records) can be linked within the R statistical environment, creating an integrated database with advanced capabilities for data retrieval and analysis.

It is worth noting that the database was designed to accommodate material collected both before the commencement of the project and during the course of the current investigation. Consequently, it provides a consistent framework for the efficient collection, management, and analysis of information throughout all stages of the research.

The survey grid, the investigated squares, and the distribution of surface finds by category are illustrated in Images 2, 3, 4. Representative finds from the 2024 field season are presented in Images 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.