The research aims to highlight the activity of amiant production, which took significant proportions in Astypalea during the 20th century. This production did not only serve the local needs; the amiant was systematically traded on other islands and parts of mainland Greece. The issue is approached both from the point of view of the technology used and the production techniques adopted (furnace construction technology, amiant production stages), and from the point of view of the organization of work (working groups, gender, age and labor divisions, working conditions). Also, attempts are made to investigate the effects of the phenomenon (economic, social, environmental, etc.) and to connect the presence of this professional group with the history of the island.