The Palace of Minos

1. z
The Palace of Minos:
Knossos
Public Archaeology Project
Franchesca Collins
UMGC- ANTH 345 6380-
Professor Tsirha Adefris-
APA Citations
Figure 1- Moonik.. (2013). Northwest Portico Lustral Basin in the Knossos Palace of Minos in Crete, Greece [ Photograph].Commons.wikimeadia.org.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northwest_Portico_Lustral_Basin_in_the_Knossos_Palace,_Crete_001.JPG#filelinks
Knossos1

2. z
What is the ‘Palace of Minos’?
 Located on the Island of Crete in Greece (Vavouranakis, 2021).
 Established during the second millennium B.C. (Vavouranakis, 2021).
 This ‘Palace’ was the economical, religious, and political center of its time
in this region (Vavouranakis, 2021).
 It highlights Aegean and East Mediterranean influences throughout the site
(Vavouranakis, 2021).
 First evolved to a city-state than eventually became a Roman colony
(Vavouranakis, 2021).

3. z
Method / Theory
 First small scale excavation occurred in 1878 by Minos Kalokairinos
(Vavouranakis, 2021).
 Arthur Evans starts his work in the 1900 by using a Mycenaean method
of looking for burial sites upon the hill (Vavouranakis, 2021).
 David Hogarth was the first to look for burials and was working for the
British School of Archaeology at Athens (Vavouranakis, 2021).
 It was Evans who noticed the East Mediterranean and Aegean
influences (Vavouranakis, 2021).
Arthur Evans 2
Figure2 University of Oxford. (1931). Sir Arthur Evans at Knossos. [photograph] British Archaeology.
https://britisharchaeology.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/highlights/arthur-evans.html

4. z
Method / Theory Continued
 While Evans did not create a excavation report he did publish a piece that
explored the stages of early Cretan civilization (Vavouranakis, 2021).
 Evans also preserved the architectural remains of Knossos while adding
what he believed to be accurate art pieces of the time (Vavouranakis,
2021).
 Evans planted trees around the palace to set a ‘accurate landscape’ for the
civilization as well (Vavouranakis, 2021).
 Evans essentially made the site what he imagined and thus created a lot of
research that had to be done to distinguish fact from fiction (Vavouranakis,
2021).

5. z
Method / Theory Continued
 Evans dies in 1941 (Scarre & Stefoff, 2003).
 After Evans, Starting in the 1990’s more work is put into correcting
confusion caused by Evans interpretations (Vavouranakis, 2021).
 Many new projects are currently underway to try to correct Evans work
(Vavouranakis, 2021).

6. z
Method / Theory continued
 Such projects include; electromagnetic and excavation sounding,
geophysical surveys, surface surveys, and KULP (Vavouranakis,
2021).
 KULP, Knossos Urban Landscape Project, would be the most strenuous
project that should reflect the most accurate information due to the
agenda of comparing landscape character rather than viewing palace
as a monument (Vavouranakis, 2021).
 KULP is being led by the British School at Athens and Local Ephorate of
Antiquities (Vavouranakis, 2021).

7. z
Public Outreach
 Linear B, an artifact, is deciphered by Ventris and Chadwick in
1952and explores shepherds herding in this area (Scarre & Stefoff,
2003).
 Human sacrifice is discovered in 1979 (Scarre & Stefoff, 2003).
 Very little was accurately preserved during Evans excavation of the site
or the storing of the sites assemblage (Scarre & Stefoff, 2003).
 Because of all the tourist that visited Knossos the foundation was
damaged (Karetsou, 2004).
Figure 3 vintagedept. (2015, December 30). Linear B clay tablet. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from
https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3390/linear-b-clay-tablet/
‘Linear B’ 3

8. z
Important issues
 Knossos boasted economical standing in the area due to the tourist
who wanted to explore the palace (Vavouranakis, 2021).
 Knossos was the second most popular site in Greece Archaeology
(Vavouranakis, 2021).
 The political power used while the excavation of Knossos took place
allowed for false information and interpretations to gain acceptance and
are now being criticized (Vavouranakis, 2021).
 The people of Greece like the way the Minoans were interpreted by
Evans so they have not allowed much further exploration of the site until
recently (Vavouranakis, 2021).

9. z
Public Outreach Pros
 There were many titles that elaborated on why Evans believed
his interpretations were correct.
 The surplus of photos available from the site via tourists
photographs was surprising.
 There is mention of further explorations and corrections to the
information provided from Evans.

10. z
Public Outreach Cons
 There was not a site specifically created to explore the
excavations that occurred since Evans chose to instead publish
a book.
 Very little evidence from newer excavations have been provided.
 Most information points out Evans flaws rather than giving
accurate information.

11. z
Public Outreach Suggestions
 Locate Evans field work and create a site specifically for
understand how he excavated the ‘Palace of Minos’ at Knossos.
 Try to locate and document methods that were used and how
Evans and current archaeologists are studying or have studied
the site.

12. z
Reference
 Alexandra Karetsou. (2004). Knossos after Evans: past interventions, present state and future solutions. British School at Athens Studies, 12, 547–
555
 Figure 1- Moonik.. (2013). Northwest Portico Lustral Basin in the Knossos Palace of Minos in Crete, Greece [
Photograph].Commons.wikimeadia.org.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northwest_Portico_Lustral_Basin_in_the_Knossos_Palace,_Crete_001.JPG#filelinks
 Figure 2- University of Oxford. (1931). Sir Arthur Evans at Knossos. [photograph] British Archaeology.
https://britisharchaeology.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/highlights/arthur-evans.html
 Figure 3- vintagedept. (2015, December 30). Linear B clay tablet. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from
https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3390/linear-b-clay-tablet/
 Scarre, Chris & Stefoff. Rebecca. (2003). The Palace of Minos at Knossos. Oxford University Press. https://eds-b-ebscohost-
com.ezproxy.umgc.edu/eds/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzE0NDg4NV9fQU41?sid=73b94b66-747a-4ec4-b767-20632f7690e8@pdc-v-
sessmgr01&vid=2&format=EB&rid=4
 Vavouranakis, Giorgos. (2021). Working on a Dream: The ‘Palace of Minos’ at Knossos in Archaeological Research, Heritage
Protection and Daily Life. Edinburgh University Press. Volume 9, Issue 1.
https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/full/10.3366/cult.2013.0048?widget=journalsociety