DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.807#0281
M. M. II: LOOM-WEIGHT DEPOSIT (CERAMIC PHASER) 249
in the section N. of the partition wall referred to, was a deposit derived
from the Hall above, containing remains of a spiral fresco,1 painted stucco
reliefs, and column bases, which represent the earlier M. M. Ill phase.
Above this again was a layer of filling materials about a metre thick, over-
lying which was a clay floor upon which stood tripod pots belonging to the
close of this Period.2
The original basements themselves consisted of a main chamber
occupying most of the East side, together with a smaller compartment
North of it, and three spaces on the West. Throughout the whole of this
area was a wrell-defined stratum belonging to the close of M. M. II,3 and
certainly affording the best collective evidence of its maturest aspect to be
found either at Knossos or elsewhere. As already noted, the miniature Discovery
terra-cotta shrine4 was found in this stratum. The faience tablets, moreover,
reproducing the house-fronts and towers of a contemporary town, the scattered Shrine
r . . . . . , , r . . . . ... and Town
remains 01 which occurred, under less definite stratigraphic conditions, Mosaic,
in the filling earth of the N.E. compartment, stand, architecturally, in such
close relation to the shrine that they too must be grouped with the
M. M. II b contents of these basements.
At a common depth of about 5 metres,5 floors appeared throughout Relics
the greater part of this area,6 coated with hard cement presenting a yellowish to MJVl.g
white surface.7 In the N.WT. chamber were two ledges rather than steps 11 Bfse"
0 1 ment and
plastered over in a similar way, behind which a large patch of similar plaster Upper
about a metre high clung to the S. wall of this basement. In the larger oor'
chamber, specially named after the loom-weights, wras a dais, plastered like
the floor and raised 19 cm. above it, which ran under the foundations of the
1 See below, p. 370. The fresco began companied by dumping of older materials had
1-70 m. below the datum level and continued occurred. In the North-West corner of this
to 2-20 m. down. area also came to light the M. M. I seal im-
2 This floor was 70 cm. below the datum pression, Fig. 151, above, and two bowls,
level one imitating inlaid work in precious metals,
3 In 1913 I had a new opportunity of going Fig. 183 a, 2, the other presenting the remark-
through the pottery found in two sections of the able thorn-bossed decoration, Suppl. PI. Ill, a,
Western basement, which had been arranged both of which must be referred to the mature
according to floor-levels and half-metre depths M. M 11 a Period.
in the Reference Museum formed in the 4 See above, p. 221 seqq., and Fig. 1G6.
Palace (B 114,115 \ In both sections M. M. II 5 Reckoning from a triangular datum block
remains, parallel with those E. of the dividing in the wall that divides the W. and E. sections
wall, became general at about 4-20 from the of these structures.
datum block. In the N. part of the area, 6 See below, Section, Fig. 187 b.
bordering the foundations of the old Upper 7 In the small N. basement the cement was
Terrace Facade, considerable disturbance ac- red-faced.
in the section N. of the partition wall referred to, was a deposit derived
from the Hall above, containing remains of a spiral fresco,1 painted stucco
reliefs, and column bases, which represent the earlier M. M. Ill phase.
Above this again was a layer of filling materials about a metre thick, over-
lying which was a clay floor upon which stood tripod pots belonging to the
close of this Period.2
The original basements themselves consisted of a main chamber
occupying most of the East side, together with a smaller compartment
North of it, and three spaces on the West. Throughout the whole of this
area was a wrell-defined stratum belonging to the close of M. M. II,3 and
certainly affording the best collective evidence of its maturest aspect to be
found either at Knossos or elsewhere. As already noted, the miniature Discovery
terra-cotta shrine4 was found in this stratum. The faience tablets, moreover,
reproducing the house-fronts and towers of a contemporary town, the scattered Shrine
r . . . . . , , r . . . . ... and Town
remains 01 which occurred, under less definite stratigraphic conditions, Mosaic,
in the filling earth of the N.E. compartment, stand, architecturally, in such
close relation to the shrine that they too must be grouped with the
M. M. II b contents of these basements.
At a common depth of about 5 metres,5 floors appeared throughout Relics
the greater part of this area,6 coated with hard cement presenting a yellowish to MJVl.g
white surface.7 In the N.WT. chamber were two ledges rather than steps 11 Bfse"
0 1 ment and
plastered over in a similar way, behind which a large patch of similar plaster Upper
about a metre high clung to the S. wall of this basement. In the larger oor'
chamber, specially named after the loom-weights, wras a dais, plastered like
the floor and raised 19 cm. above it, which ran under the foundations of the
1 See below, p. 370. The fresco began companied by dumping of older materials had
1-70 m. below the datum level and continued occurred. In the North-West corner of this
to 2-20 m. down. area also came to light the M. M. I seal im-
2 This floor was 70 cm. below the datum pression, Fig. 151, above, and two bowls,
level one imitating inlaid work in precious metals,
3 In 1913 I had a new opportunity of going Fig. 183 a, 2, the other presenting the remark-
through the pottery found in two sections of the able thorn-bossed decoration, Suppl. PI. Ill, a,
Western basement, which had been arranged both of which must be referred to the mature
according to floor-levels and half-metre depths M. M 11 a Period.
in the Reference Museum formed in the 4 See above, p. 221 seqq., and Fig. 1G6.
Palace (B 114,115 \ In both sections M. M. II 5 Reckoning from a triangular datum block
remains, parallel with those E. of the dividing in the wall that divides the W. and E. sections
wall, became general at about 4-20 from the of these structures.
datum block. In the N. part of the area, 6 See below, Section, Fig. 187 b.
bordering the foundations of the old Upper 7 In the small N. basement the cement was
Terrace Facade, considerable disturbance ac- red-faced.