It was one of the most important prehistoric cities of the Aegean and cradle of the earliest civilization of the Cyclades.

Traces of habitation in the area date from 3300 to 1100 B.C.
 
It was first inhabited around 2300 B.C.

It was destroyed and rebuilt three times.

It prospered thanks to the exploitation and trading of obsidian, a hard black volcanic rock that was used to make blades, tools and arrows.

Great developments in the arts of pottery, seal engraving and goldsmithing are attested to by wonderful items on display in the museums of Athens and Milos.

The remains of the city were discovered in 1896.

The excavations conducted by the British School of Archaeology revealed settlements of three cities from the Early Minoan, Middle – Late Minoan and Mycenaean period respectively.

In the Phylakopi archaeological site, of special interest are the cyclopean wall of the settlement, the shrine and the Megaron.

Finds from the excavations include the famous goddess or Lady of Phylakopi, which comes from the Mycenaean sanctuary of the 14th century B.C.