MALIA - 2008

As presently understood, building Π (Neopalatial phase I) is bounded to the E by a lane (Fig. 1). To the NE, wall 109 formed the façade separating the building from areas to the N which seem to have been largely abandoned after MMII (areas 17−18 and perhaps 21). In the NW, where an exterior wall had been expected, it appears that area 8 was bounded to the N only by light structures, with a passage to the NW. Immediately to the N is a court of beaten earth (25), which seems to have been used in the Protopalatial period, and which produced 2 sherds inscribed with hieroglyphic signs (a potter’s mark and an inscription formed of 3 signs). Two walls delimit what is probably a street, which opens out into this court from the W. Lastly, a small sounding was opened W of the W façade of building P, in order to determine whether a street passed here. The structures partially revealed (flagstones and a sandstone ‘gourna’) rather seem to be part of a Neopalatial building between Δα and Π.
Excavation of the palatial levels of building Π related to the corridor 1B, semi-basements 10 and 11, and areas 14 and 16. The domestic, residential and relatively modest nature of the Neopalatial building is confirmed particularly by the pottery, notably storage vessels, ceramics related to food production and weights. In particular, the SW angle of area 16 was occupied by 2 lines of large jars or pithoi, forming a niche in which were found many complete conical cups, several cups and animal bones. A complete tripod pot also comes from this deposit, intended for food production. Many difficulties remain in reconstructing the organization of the sector and the circulation patterns both within the building and in the neighbourhood. Several soundings illuminated the sequence of occupation in the sector. There is a distinction between the N, which was abandoned after the Protopalatial period, and the S, where the Neopalatial levels seem to rest directly on EM deposits. It is possible that traces of Protopalatial occupation were completely removed during the construction of the Neopalatial building, in the limited area explored by soundings.