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Extracted from the ashes, the West House is the only completely excavated surviving structure from ancient Akrotiri, a site on the south side of Thera. Beneath a protective corrugated roof, braced by metal scaffolding, five other houses have been partially excavated. Within the undistinguished walls of the West House, several wall paintings were discovered, including the naval scene, leading excavators to speculate that the house belonged to a wealthy sea captain. Fronting the West House is a triangular square, shown on the plan.

Ironically, the volcano that destroyed Akrotiri also helped preserve some of its buildings: The upper stories of many surviving structures are held in place by the volcanic ash that filled them before structural supports could collapse.