September 5, 2024
by Efi Sapouna-Sakellaraki
The excavation of the Minoan palace at Archanes, under the direction of Dr. Efi Sapouna Sakellaraki, continued successfully in 2024 in two sectors: in the northern and southern, so far, excavated parts of the palace.
In corridor 35, we continued last year’s excavation of the elite area. Interesting architectural elements came to light (Fig.1). We found openings that led to the above mentioned area, but also to other, unexcavated sites to the north and west (Fig.2). Gypsum pillar bases were revealed in the openings, as was observed in adjacent areas 34 & 36 that were revealed during last year’s excavation. One of the pillars of the western wall was covered with plaster. Fragments of wall-paintings with blue and red color had fallen from the upper floor.
On the ground-floor we discovered, in situ, decorative bands of plaster, the usual in almost all areas of the palace, which divided the floor in smaller sections (Fig.1). These bands surrounded either a stone floor or a floor of another perishable material.
In the northern part of room 32, part of the façade of the door, which retains the lintel with a pillar base, made of gypsum (Fig.3) was revealed.
The southern part of this year’s research took place in a courtyard south of the entrance with the four incurved altars. A section of space of 96 sq.m. was excavated (Fig.4) under a number of fallen blocks, especially on the east side (Fig.5). The thick upper layer in the southern section was disturbed with mixed pottery of different periods. Beneath this disturbed layer, a Mycenaean layer that had been destroyed by fire was revealed.
The Mycenaean layers covered the very important Minoan rectangular construction. This construction lies southwest of the main entrance of the palace with the four incurved altars (Fig.6). The construction includes two more altars, the oblong and the stepped discovered in older excavations (Y., and E. Sakellarakis, Archanes : Minoan Crete in a New Light, Vol. I & II,Athens, 1997), a platform and at least two stone bases of double axes. This architectural complex belongs to a “Gate – Shrine” (Fig.7).
East of the “Gate Shrine” and south of the main entrance, a stone base, fragments of charcoal, and four bronze artifacts were discovered. They are probably parts of a wooden xoanon fallen from the upper floor of the eastern part of the building.
At the southern part of this year’s excavation, a wall with large blocks was discovered (Fig.4). This wall is oblique and has a different direction from the other walls of the building.
