DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15680#0027
THE EXCAVATION.
7
lt seems highly probable, therefore, tbat tbe sberds in the Cnossian pits
are remains of tbings originally dedicated at public or private sbrines, bidden
witb superstitious care eitber when grown so numerous as to encumber tbe
sbrine, or after the introduction of a new regime ; and equally probable tbat
tbe Phylakopi pit contained the disjcäa mcmlra of vessels originally dedicated
in a similar sbrine or sbrines. Anthrepologists can quote many exaniples of
a fear lest tbings dedicated to gods or for the use of the spirits of deified
ancestors should fall into profane hands or remain available for the use of a
ghost, whicb would amply justify the pains here taken to conceal the sherds.
The outer face of the Great Wall was exposed to a depth of two metres
in 1890 as far as the eastern limit of D, and in 1897 the Clearing of it was
Fig. .!.—Exteunal Face of Great Wall, showino Reyetment ox tue rhiht and
Bastion ix tue distanck.
completed down to the rock. The cUbris removed in Ibis process was shown
by pottery and stone fragments to be all of Mycenaean character (witb one or
two accidental ingredients of later date) until the last Stratum above the bed-
rock was reached. Tliat Stratum, forming the bed of the ditch, between the
foundation courses of the fortification and a low revetment on the opposite
bank (t. infm,j). 33 and Fig. 2), was characterised by earlier sherds, among whicb
occurred many fragments of painted stucco. Deposits of burnt stuff also
appeared in this Stratum, whicb extended at one point (the bastion in the
west of B 5) under the foundations. This part of the fortification, tberefore,
is certainly posterior to the period ofthat Stratum; and,though it is probably
an addition, it seems, from other indications noted on the sea-face, that no
7
lt seems highly probable, therefore, tbat tbe sberds in the Cnossian pits
are remains of tbings originally dedicated at public or private sbrines, bidden
witb superstitious care eitber when grown so numerous as to encumber tbe
sbrine, or after the introduction of a new regime ; and equally probable tbat
tbe Phylakopi pit contained the disjcäa mcmlra of vessels originally dedicated
in a similar sbrine or sbrines. Anthrepologists can quote many exaniples of
a fear lest tbings dedicated to gods or for the use of the spirits of deified
ancestors should fall into profane hands or remain available for the use of a
ghost, whicb would amply justify the pains here taken to conceal the sherds.
The outer face of the Great Wall was exposed to a depth of two metres
in 1890 as far as the eastern limit of D, and in 1897 the Clearing of it was
Fig. .!.—Exteunal Face of Great Wall, showino Reyetment ox tue rhiht and
Bastion ix tue distanck.
completed down to the rock. The cUbris removed in Ibis process was shown
by pottery and stone fragments to be all of Mycenaean character (witb one or
two accidental ingredients of later date) until the last Stratum above the bed-
rock was reached. Tliat Stratum, forming the bed of the ditch, between the
foundation courses of the fortification and a low revetment on the opposite
bank (t. infm,j). 33 and Fig. 2), was characterised by earlier sherds, among whicb
occurred many fragments of painted stucco. Deposits of burnt stuff also
appeared in this Stratum, whicb extended at one point (the bastion in the
west of B 5) under the foundations. This part of the fortification, tberefore,
is certainly posterior to the period ofthat Stratum; and,though it is probably
an addition, it seems, from other indications noted on the sea-face, that no