GALATAS - 2003

Galatas. G. Rethemiotakis (ΚΓ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports that cleaning and restoration of the north façade of the palace revealed that the central portion of the tripartite wall had been added to close off a previously open rectangular space. Traces of a wooden floor were found beneath two Late Minoan IA walls which are interpreted as belonging to an exedra. Terraces and retaining walls to the northeast of the palace (which support it and a road alongside it) were explored. The footings of a staircase with red-painted plastered steps were found west of the lightwell of the polythyron in the north wing. This is the third staircase in the vicinity of the polythyron hall. Rooms 67, 69, and 70 lie to the west of the polythyron lightwell and communicate with it. They had plastered walls and paved floors with plaster bands at the interstices of the paving. These rooms contained much burnt wood and mostly Late Minoan IA pottery. Under the Middle Minoan IIIB floor of room 68 were Middle Minoan IIIA walls and floors. The Middle Minoan IIIB walls rested on the earlier walls. Finds include much high quality pottery and painted plaster depicting marble and curvilinear motifs in red, dark and light blue, and yellow. Room 72 contained numerous cups, plates and kalathoi dating from Middle Minoan IIIA-Late Minoan IA. Tests under room 71 revealed a thick layer of stone and Middle Minoan IIIB pottery. In the east were Middle Minoan IIIA foundations while in the west Middle Minoan IB walls lay under the Middle Minoan IIIB floors. A Vapheio cup with a relief band and ripple decoration and sherds with reed decoration from room 47 are taken to confirm the mature Late Minoan IA destruction date.