KOUMASA - 2012

Koumasa, Crete. Excavation at Koumasa, southwest of Herakleon, began in 2012 under the direction of D. Panagiotopoulos (ASA) in collaboration with the ΚΓ’ EΠKA. The Minoan settlement was investigated via four trenches on the hill of Korakies (Figs 1-2). The two most important were in sections of the settlement previously investigated by Stephanos Xanthoudidis (1904/1906), and Athanasia Kanta and Alexandra Karetsou (1991-1992), in which walls of Minoan buildings were distinguished (Fig. 3). The excavated areas were apparently used for storage, and contained mostly pottery plus stone vessels and tools, shell, animal bone, and burnt material.

The two other trenches were opened in the previously unexplored central part of the settlement, where bedrock was quickly located.

All the areas investigated produced Neopalatial pottery (Fig. 4). Surface collection around the settlement also produced pottery (largely Neopalatial but with some earlier and later sherds). In trench 1 (Area 4), a deeper layer contained evidence of earlier Protopalatial occupation (sections of walls and pottery including Kamares ware).

Buildings in the southern and central parts of the settlement were shown to follow the same southwest-northeast orientation. The visible architectural remains and surface collection of pottery in the area of Koraikies hill revealed that the settlement occupied almost the entire saddle of the hill and extended over at least 30 stremmata.

Cleaning in the cemetery and sanctuary areas permitted digital recording of the architectural remains (Fig. 5). Cleaning of the entrance of tholos tomb E confirmed the accuracy of Xanthoudidis’ plan. Cleaning of the west section of the wall of tholos tomb B revealed a large number of small finds including a prepalatial stone seal, a theriomorphic ivory pendant, pieces of stone vessels, stone counters, pebbles of various forms and one gold ring-shaped counter.

The most important room of the poorly preserved building in the sanctuary was found to be paved with cut slabs, damaged by illegal digging.