KNOSSOS - 2004

Knossos. B. Marsellou (ΚΓ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on excavations around Knossos between 2001 and 2004.

In the hamlet of Vlychia, excavation on the Fountaki property revealed a pit grave with a stone cover, containing bones and part of a skull. Pottery was recovered mostly from disturbed surface layers, where Late Minoan sherds were mixed with contemporary objects.
In the village of Bougada Metochi, on the Theiakaki property, two neighbouring rooms of Mycenaean date with rubble walls and clay and plaster floors were uncovered. Parallel walls and a patch of floor dating to the Neopalatial period were also found. The excavation yielded pottery from the Middle Minoan to the Archaic period. Other finds included two bronze coins, two stone seals, parts of clay figurines and many loomweights.

In the same village, on the Antoniadi-Mathioudaki property, a 2m-high Hellenistic wall was uncovered, with a second, MM III-LMIA, wall below it. A second trench contained a wall of large rectangular stones with a threshold. A variety of walls were found elsewhere, plus beaten earth floors in all six trenches opened on the plot. Roman, Hellenistic and Minoan pottery was found, plus stone tools, bone pins, figurines, terracotta lamps, loomweights and obsidian.

Forty-one Hellenistic and Roman graves from the Knossos north cemetery were uncovered on the Psychogiou-Spanaki property in the area of Ambelokipi. Most were rectangular rock-cut and tile-covered graves. Many were looted: recovered grave goods included clay and glass vessels, coins, faience and crystal pendants and gold strips. A Roman stele was also found. A further 30 Hellenistic and Roman graves were found on the Berki-Parcharidi property in the same area. Two were built tombs and the rest were rock-cut. All were oriented northeast-southwest. Most were looted, but items recovered included ceramic and glass vessels and coins.

Four rock-cut graves were uncovered on the Giatromanolaki property in the area of Topana. None contained human remains. A very few coarse and undecorated sherds were found, together with a few decorated Roman sherds.