Editing Chios (section)

===Prehistoric period===
{{main|Emporio, Chios}}

Archaeological research on Chios has found evidence of habitation dating back at least to the [[Neolithic]] era. The primary sites of research for this period have been cave dwellings at Hagio(n) Galas in the north and a settlement and accompanying [[necropolis]] in modern-day Emporeio (also known as Emporio) at the far south of the island. Scholars lack information on this period. The size and duration of these settlements have therefore not been well-established.

The [[British School at Athens]] under the direction of [[Sinclair Hood]] excavated the Emporeio site in 1952–1955, and most current information comes from these digs.<ref>Boardman, John ''Excavations in Chios, 1952–1955: Greek Emporio'' (London : British School of Archaeology at Athens; Thames and Hudson, 1967), cf. also Hood, Sinclair ''Excavations in Chios, 1938–1955: prehistoric Emporio and Ayio Gala'' (London : British School of Archaeology at Athens: Thames and Hudson, 1981–) {{ISBN|0-500-96017-8}}</ref> The [[Greek Archaeological Service]] has also been excavating periodically on Chios since 1970, though much of its work on the island remains unpublished.

The noticeable uniformity in the size of houses at Emporeio leads some scholars to believe that there may have been little [[Acephalous Society|social distinction]] during the Neolithic era on the island. The inhabitants apparently all benefited from agricultural and livestock farming.<ref>Merouses, Nikos ''Chios. Physiko periballon & katoikese apo te neolithike epoche mechri to telos tes archaiothtas. (Chios. Natural Environment & Habitation from the Neolithic Age to the end of Antiquity)'' pg. 80. Papyros, 2002</ref>

It is also widely held by scholars that the island was not occupied by humans during the [[Middle Bronze Age]] (2300–1600), though researchers have recently suggested that the lack of evidence from this period may only demonstrate the lack of excavations on Chios and the northern [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]].<ref>Merouses 2002 ch. 4</ref>

By at least the 11th century BC the island was ruled by a monarchy, and the subsequent transition to aristocratic (or possibly [[tyrant|tyrannic]]) rule occurred sometime over the next four centuries. Future excavations may reveal more information about this period.<ref>Merouses 2002 ch. 5, sect. 1</ref> 9th-century [[Euboea]]n and [[Cyprus|Cypriote]] presence on the island is attested by ceramics, while a [[Phoenicia]]n presence is noted at [[Erythrae]], the traditional competitor of Chios on the mainland.<ref>I.S. Lemos, ''The Protogeometric Aegean'' 2002:240, and Euboean ceramics in the Archeological Museum, noted by Robin Lane Fox, ''Travelling Heroes in the Epic Age of Homer'', 2008:60 note 59.</ref>