ZOMINTHOS - 2007

Zominthos. Y. Sakellarakis (ASA) reports on the continuing excavation of the M settlement, conducted in collaboration with D. Panagiotopoulos (Heidelberg).
The M main building, of 2 or 3 storeys, covers ca. 1,500m²; its 2 entrances, good façade, and frescoes establish its élite status. It was a working establishment, perhaps central to the exploitation of the upland terrain in which it is located. It had its own potter. Three chronological phases are distinguished: Prepalatial, Protopalatial and Neopalatial. Burnt after an earthquake, it was later replaced by a Myc structure. Some 50 pithoi have so far been located, among numerous other vessels, and bone and metal tools (knives, double axes). Over 30 types of seed have been found (barley, wheat, lentils, horse-beans), plus evidence of aromatic materials, and the bones of sheep, goat, hares, and quantities of deer.
In the excavations of 2007, 5 rooms along the N face of the main structure were investigated. Room 7 had quantities of plaster and stones fallen from its upper storey/roof; wall-fresco pieces were still in place at their junction with the floor (thin coloured bands are detectable). Room 8 has a window (as have rooms 9, 14 and 15), plus more fresco in situ, 3 small vases, bits of wood and bronze, and some upright stones arrayed in arcs at the W that block an easy passage into the door with room 9, whose lintel still remains. Room 17 contained a fallen pithos and various clay vases including spouted jars, hemispherical and conical cups, and jars, as well as bones and burnt wood. Corridor 16 was partly blocked by a stone floor of schist and limestone fallen from above, partly by fallen vases, plaster and burnt wood. Room 15, a basement, has collapsed stones with a pithos and smaller vases, cooking pots, part of a set of Horns of Consecration, bones and burnt wood (Fig. 1).
Geophysical survey of the area of this M structure and its Myc successor revealed traces of a considerable number of walls. Environmental studies (animal bones) and conservation in the building continue.