August 2, 2023
After many years, excavation of Archanes in Crete has been started again. The palatial complex is located at the center of the village. Arthur Evans believed that this place could be the summer palace of the king of Knossos.
This building, which was discovered by the late Yannis Sakellarakis, was excavated for many years along with the nearby cemetery at the Fourni hill of Archanes—the most important in the Aegean region, known for its famous vaulted tombs with rich finds—and the Anemospilia, “Sanctuary of the Human Sacrifice,” one of the most important sanctuaries in Crete. This year, the excavation continues directed by Efi Sapouna-Sakellaraki and her scientific staff (Fig.1).
In the first week, parts of walls have already been revealed after the removal of the later/modern layers. The constant occupation and the general importance of this area is obvious. Some of the new finds are a coin of the Venetian period (Fig.2-3) and a triton (Fig.4).
