DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8755#0033
22
A. J. Evans
the deposit above referred to of impressions of lentoid gems presenting
curiously picturesque designs.1 In the Middle Minoan stratum beneath
the Olive Press Rooms the beginnings of this naturalistic style of engrav-
ing (see Fig. 9) are already perceptible, though no example was there
discovered so advanced in character as some of those from the other
deposit.
Side by side with these there also came to light other decorative
sealings impressed from exceptionally large matrices. An example of one
of these is given in Fig. 10. These very broad signets seem to have been
characteristic of this period of Minoan art. Specimens of the same kind
also occurred in the early basement of the South-East Quarter.
§ 6.—The Deep Walled Cells and the Stratification of
the North-West Palace Quarter.
Further exploration of lower levels in the North-West Quarter of the
Palace have led to very important stratigraphical results. The deep
walled pits or cells, two of which were partially excavated in 1901,2 have
been more completely investigated, and six of these dungeon-like chambers
have now been brought to light and to a great extent cleared out. From
the plan of these, as will be seen from Fig. II, it has now become clear that
these structures have no systematic connexion with the Later Palace. Their
main axes for the most part run directly athwart those of the later
building, and the presence of these walled pits, going down in each case
nearly twenty-five feet, had evidently caused considerable trouble to those
who carried out the new constructions. In order to obtain secure support
for the walls now drawn across the earlier lines, it was found necessary to
carry down their foundations in many cases to the original floor-level of
these deep cells.
Of these cells No. 1 has now been completely cleared out, and, to
render this clearance possible without destroying the history of the build-
ing by removing the later walls, I resorted to the expedient of removing
only their rubble foundations and supporting their upper structure by
means of arches thrown across the earlier cells. The general aspect of the
1 Report, &c, 1902, pp. 62, 63 ; Myc. Tree ana Pillar Cult, p. 31, Fig. 17. See too below,
p. 88, Fig. 60.
2 Report, 1901, p. 35 seqq.
A. J. Evans
the deposit above referred to of impressions of lentoid gems presenting
curiously picturesque designs.1 In the Middle Minoan stratum beneath
the Olive Press Rooms the beginnings of this naturalistic style of engrav-
ing (see Fig. 9) are already perceptible, though no example was there
discovered so advanced in character as some of those from the other
deposit.
Side by side with these there also came to light other decorative
sealings impressed from exceptionally large matrices. An example of one
of these is given in Fig. 10. These very broad signets seem to have been
characteristic of this period of Minoan art. Specimens of the same kind
also occurred in the early basement of the South-East Quarter.
§ 6.—The Deep Walled Cells and the Stratification of
the North-West Palace Quarter.
Further exploration of lower levels in the North-West Quarter of the
Palace have led to very important stratigraphical results. The deep
walled pits or cells, two of which were partially excavated in 1901,2 have
been more completely investigated, and six of these dungeon-like chambers
have now been brought to light and to a great extent cleared out. From
the plan of these, as will be seen from Fig. II, it has now become clear that
these structures have no systematic connexion with the Later Palace. Their
main axes for the most part run directly athwart those of the later
building, and the presence of these walled pits, going down in each case
nearly twenty-five feet, had evidently caused considerable trouble to those
who carried out the new constructions. In order to obtain secure support
for the walls now drawn across the earlier lines, it was found necessary to
carry down their foundations in many cases to the original floor-level of
these deep cells.
Of these cells No. 1 has now been completely cleared out, and, to
render this clearance possible without destroying the history of the build-
ing by removing the later walls, I resorted to the expedient of removing
only their rubble foundations and supporting their upper structure by
means of arches thrown across the earlier cells. The general aspect of the
1 Report, &c, 1902, pp. 62, 63 ; Myc. Tree ana Pillar Cult, p. 31, Fig. 17. See too below,
p. 88, Fig. 60.
2 Report, 1901, p. 35 seqq.