PERA GALINI - 2001

Pera Galini. E. Tsivilika and E. Banou (National Museum and ΚΕ’ ΕΠΚΑ) report on continuing excavation.

Work in 2001 concentrated on the southern side of the building complex revealed in 1993 and 2000. A number of sections of staircase and rooms were uncovered. The fill in one room contained compacted cobbles, as if from a paved floor fallen from the upper story. The fill in many areas (8a, 8b, 13a, 14) had intense signs of burning and much animal bone and pottery (cooking pots, cups). One basement (13c) contained a metalworking crucible, many cups, cooking pots, a large kalathos and sea shells. Other finds included a stone lamp, an unusual vase with a hole close to the lip, and a Middle Minoan IIB pot with relief rosettes. The burnt layer contained some Middle Minoan IIIB pottery.

Excavation in 2002 focused to the west and east of the building complex. On the western edge of the hill lay a small building with at least one room full of burnt wood and Middle Minoan IIB - IIIA pottery. An open space to the west of the main building complex yielded pottery of the earliest phases (Middle Minoan IIA- Middle Minoan IIB). Excavation to the east of the main complex revealed fragments of painted plaster and a column base.

In 2003, a trench into thick walls of large irregular stones that enclosed the south part of the hill revealed a parallel well-built wall and two cross walls. Finds included cooking pots, cups, and pithoi, together with white and red plaster.

In 2004 the discovery of a kiln is reported.