Casteli - 2024

Crete - Casteli hill. The Ephorate of Antiquities in Heraklion reports on the rescue excavations conducted in Castelli, part of the construction works for Heraklion’s New International Airport. 

On the Papoura hill, NW of Castelli, a monumental circular building complex with 48m diameter was unearthed, covering an area of 1800m2 (Fig. 1). It is dated to the MMI - II periods with a destruction phase during the New Palace period. This unique minoan construction is located on the highest hillpoint. Eight concentric rings are constructed on various levels; in-between them a maze of communicating rooms of various sizes. At the heart of the rings a circular building (zone A) stands, roofed with a corbelled dome. At the SW and NW sides two possible passageways have been located. 

Because of the excavation’s preliminary character, it’s not yet possible to identify the original size, shape and height of the structure. Its roofing is hypothesized to have been a tholos one. Zones A and B seem to have held the main area of activities, as is evidenced by the high quantities of animal bones. It is undoubtedly the first building of its kind on Crete with parallels only in the Early Bronze Age Middle East. Its careful and grand construction suggests a strong sense of directorship and organisation, as it probably served as a public landmark in the wider Valley area. Architectural similarities can be seen in the elliptical MM Chamaizi building, the EH building in Tiryns, and the tholos tombs in south Crete but also the ones in Greek mainland. 

Entry by Katerina Argyraki.