Archaeological excavations at the ancient settlement of Anavlochos, on a mountainside on the island of Crete, uncovered hundreds of figurines and votive clay plaques hidden among the cracks in the rocks. All of them are female, which is why researchers have nicknamed them the Ladies of Anavlochos. These are terracotta offerings that were deposited at […]
Crete
Posted inBronze Age Archaeology
Evidence of Ancient Ritual to “Kill” the Dead and Destroy Their Tombs in a Final Feast 4,000 Years Ago Found in Crete
On the island of Crete, famous for its Minoan palaces and legends like the labyrinth of the Minotaur, an international team of archaeologists has discovered something even more intriguing: how the ancient Cretans symbolically “killed” their dead. This was not a violent act, but rather a carefully planned ritual to close a chapter of their […]
Posted inIron Age Archaeology
Longest Known Inscription in the Undeciphered Linear A Script of Minoan civilization, Found on an Ivory Scepter in Knossos
A team of archaeologists has discovered in Knossos, on the Greek island of Crete, the longest Linear A inscription found to date. The script appears on a circular ivory object with an attached handle, discovered in a context of clear religious significance within a Neopalatial building. Besides providing the longest inscription in this yet-to-be-deciphered system, […]
Posted inBronze Age Archaeology
Mollusks Found in Building Materials Reveal Bronze Age Cretans Used Seagrasses to Make Their Bricks Fire-Resistant
A recent study led by Rena Veropoulidou (Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki) and Maud Devolder (Ghent University) has uncovered an innovative technique for unraveling the mysteries of Bronze Age architecture in the Aegean region. Researchers have utilized remains of marine mollusks as indirect indicators to identify traces of disintegrated mud bricks used in constructions […]
Posted inIron Age Archaeology
A Sacred Gate Discovered in Crete is the First Found in a Minoan Palace
The recent excavation at the Minoan palace of Archanes, in Crete, has yielded an extraordinary and unique discovery under the direction of archaeologist Dr. Efi Sapouna-Sakellarakis. This investigation, which seeks to expand knowledge about this three-story building, which played a significant role in the development of Minoan civilization, like the palace of Knossos, has led […]
Posted inBronze Age Archaeology
A Dagger from the Minoan Civilization of Crete Found in a Bronze Age Shipwreck
Under the direction of Professor Dr. Hakan Öniz, head of the Department of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Properties at the Faculty of Fine Arts at Akdeniz University, a team of archaeologists has made an extraordinary discovery: a bronze dagger with silver rivets, approximately 3,600 years old. This finding, made at underwater sites off the […]
Posted inIron Age Archaeology
Equitable Distribution of Food Resources was a Crucial Factor in Maintaining Social Stability and Preventing Unrest in Ancient Crete
A new archaeological study sheds light on the dietary practices of the ancient Cretans during the peak of Neo-palatial Knossos, revealing equitable access to food resources and its impact on the site’s social and political stability. The recent study published by Argyro Nafplioti in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology analyzes social status differences in the […]
Posted inBronze Age Archaeology
Extraordinary Circular Labyrinthine Structure from the Minoan Era Formed by 8 Stone Rings, Discovered in Crete
Excavations being carried out at the top of Papoura Hill, at an altitude of 494 meters, have uncovered a monumental circular architectural complex that is already considered unique in Minoan archaeology. With a diameter of about 48 meters and an area of about 1,800 m², it is located at the highest point of the hill, […]
