DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8755#0142
Knossos Excavations, 1903.
131
On now clearing these jambs, we also uncovered remains of their
gypsum lintels, and the full evidence was brought to light of three doorways
of Minoan character, opening Westwards into some chamber covered
by the steep bank, and which had been themselves controlled from that
side.
The somewhat serious nature of an excavation in this direction was
obvious. It involved not only the diversion of the roadway but a cutting into
the declivity to the height of some seven or eight metres. In order there-
fore to gain some preliminary assurance as to the value of the remains with
which we had to deal, it was decided first to tunnel in at the foot of the
steep where the door-jambs had made their appearance.
By a happy chance the starting-point chosen for this subterranean
exploration-—-namely the Northernmost door opening — proved to be
the best that could possibly have been chosen had we had the full
plan of the constructions before us. A wall of solid limestone masonry at
once appeared on the right, which afforded good support for the tunnel
on that side, and, at three metres' distance, there started a second
wall line parallel with the first and separated from it by an interval
of a metre.
We had in fact exactly struck the line of a corridor, (A 1 in plan),
paved below with good gypsum slabs. At every step inwards the preserva-
tion of the walls improved, and that on the right was found to be cased
with the remains of gypsum slabs. At 570 metres from the opening of
the tunnel a double door opening with the usual gypsum iambs appeared
in the North Wall, and presently a small closet on the opposite side. At
about 9'8o metres from the starting-point the further course of the
corridor was cut short by a back wall of fine gypsum blocks and the lower
steps of a staircase became visible, running up to the left.
The tunnel was now excavated upwards in this Southerly direction
and ten steps of the staircase, consisting of gypsum slabs, were laid bare,
leading to what was evidently a landing. Moreover, various fragments of
painted pottery, dating from the latest Palace Period, brought out in the
course of the tunneling gave a chronological terminus ad quern to the
habitation of this part of the building.
The results attained by this preliminary exploration were already
sufficient to show that we had here to deal with an important construction
which in fabric and material, notably in its fine gypsum masonry, rivalled
k 2
131
On now clearing these jambs, we also uncovered remains of their
gypsum lintels, and the full evidence was brought to light of three doorways
of Minoan character, opening Westwards into some chamber covered
by the steep bank, and which had been themselves controlled from that
side.
The somewhat serious nature of an excavation in this direction was
obvious. It involved not only the diversion of the roadway but a cutting into
the declivity to the height of some seven or eight metres. In order there-
fore to gain some preliminary assurance as to the value of the remains with
which we had to deal, it was decided first to tunnel in at the foot of the
steep where the door-jambs had made their appearance.
By a happy chance the starting-point chosen for this subterranean
exploration-—-namely the Northernmost door opening — proved to be
the best that could possibly have been chosen had we had the full
plan of the constructions before us. A wall of solid limestone masonry at
once appeared on the right, which afforded good support for the tunnel
on that side, and, at three metres' distance, there started a second
wall line parallel with the first and separated from it by an interval
of a metre.
We had in fact exactly struck the line of a corridor, (A 1 in plan),
paved below with good gypsum slabs. At every step inwards the preserva-
tion of the walls improved, and that on the right was found to be cased
with the remains of gypsum slabs. At 570 metres from the opening of
the tunnel a double door opening with the usual gypsum iambs appeared
in the North Wall, and presently a small closet on the opposite side. At
about 9'8o metres from the starting-point the further course of the
corridor was cut short by a back wall of fine gypsum blocks and the lower
steps of a staircase became visible, running up to the left.
The tunnel was now excavated upwards in this Southerly direction
and ten steps of the staircase, consisting of gypsum slabs, were laid bare,
leading to what was evidently a landing. Moreover, various fragments of
painted pottery, dating from the latest Palace Period, brought out in the
course of the tunneling gave a chronological terminus ad quern to the
habitation of this part of the building.
The results attained by this preliminary exploration were already
sufficient to show that we had here to deal with an important construction
which in fabric and material, notably in its fine gypsum masonry, rivalled
k 2