Surface investigations have shown that the area has been inhabited since prehistoric times and is of great archaeological interest. An extensive Minoan settlement was found at the Katsounakia site, which has not yet been excavated. On the hill of Trachila, a Summit Sanctuary was investigated, but it was captured.

At the location of Psili Ammos you can see the ancient stone quarry with which the ancient city of historical times was built. On the beach, near the ancient city, there are salt pans from Hellenistic times, from where the inhabitants used to get sea salt. It is a series of drainage channels and tanks carved into the sea cliffs.

Today they are not visible because they are covered by the beach sand. In Kavalos, the small islands located opposite Xerokambos, there are fishermen’s facilities dating back to the AD era.

In 1984, archaeologist N. P. Papadakis began excavations at the site of Farmakokefalo. An important Hellenistic city was discovered, possibly the ancient Ampelos.

The city occupied the entire hill and was protected by a strong wall that is partially preserved. Although only a small part of the city has been excavated, houses, streets and open spaces have come to light, and the finds are of exceptional art and particularly informative about its history.

From their study it appears that the city was founded around the 5th BC. century and experienced its greatest glory in the 3rd-2nd BC. century. It had commercial relations with other cities of Crete, the Dodecanese and especially with Rhodes and Kalymnos. Typical are the lead slingshots, often inscribed, which were used by army slingers. The findings of the excavations are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Sitia.

In the center of the ancient city today there is the small church of Agios Nikolaos which was built in 1895.