Pera Galini, Mylopotamos - 2008

Pera Galini . Eleni Tsivilika and Eleni Banou (ΚΕ΄ΕΠΚΑ) report that the excavation of the archaeological site of Pera Galini in Mylopotamos, Rethymno, continued in October 2008 at the east and west side of the peak of Souda hill.

At the east side, the excavation progressed at the narrow corridor (trench XXIII), S of the large Γ-shaped space. Since the walls of the corridor show a curvature and incline towards the S, the backfilling was only partially removed from the N wall for support purposes. At the S part the backfilling was removed up to the cobbled floor. Both the floor and the external side of the S wall were covered in plaster. At the east side, an entrance is connected with a rectangular room that was excavated the year before. The pottery was scarce and dated to the Middle Minoan period. Other finds included a large obsidian flake and part of a rock crystal core. Another space was discovered after the cleaning of the stones and slabs covering trench XXIV. A few more Middle Minoan pot sherds were found there along with stone querns. The excavation continued with the opening of another trench (XXV) in order to better understand the architecture of this part of the settlement. At the N part of this trench, appeared an elongated space, which is parallel to the corridor in trench XXIII in the N. 

At the W side of the hill, the excavation carried on in trench Ι, at the elongated L-shaped space W of the adyton. At the N part of the space, seven small shallow pits outlined with pebbles and slabs were discovered. The pits bore fire and charcoal traces, sherds or cup parts, plaster fragments, shells, small bone fragments as well as sherds of larger vessels. One of the pits contained a slag with a lump of copper, suggesting that there was a link between them and metallurgical activities. A larger pit, containing broken, fragmented or almost complete cups as well as shells, bones and plaster was excavated further south. Additionally, a vessel shaped as a kylix, with a closed upper surface and a circumferential perforation was also inside the pit. The excavation of a structure made of slabs and pebbles also took place. Middle Minoan sherds from fine vessels as well as a one-handled cup were located there.

Along with the excavation, restoration works also took place due to the partial destruction of the temporary shelter and in order to replace part of the fencing. 

[Entry created by C. Koureta]