DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.809#0127
io2 MINOAN VIADUCT SOUTH OF THE PALACE
corre-
sponds
with
destruc-
tion of
Later
Palace.
Strong
presump-
tion that
original
elements
of struc-
ture date
from
founda-
tion of
Palace.
that were in existence in the last Middle Minoan Period. We may infer
that the Viaduct in its final form dates from the beginning of the Late
Minoan Age.
These ceramic materials, though abundantly forthcoming in the upper
part of the deposit, especially in connexion with the two Easternmost piers,
do not extend below the level of the lowest of the steps in the interval
between them. In part at least it may well stand in relation to some
restoration of the upper part of the structure at the beginning of the Late
Minoan Age, consequent on an overthrow similar to that of which we have
evidence beneath the next section. The fact that no sherds are later than
the close of L. M. II may also be taken as an indication that the Viaduct
went out of use about the date of the destruction of the Palace itself.
There is nothing to warrant us in going beyond this and concluding
from the association of L. M. I—11 pottery with the upper part of the remains
that the original structure itself belonged to the same late epoch. It has
indeed already been noted that the comparative roughness of the lower
courses itself points to an earlier date than some of the more finished
work above. We have seen that the actual discovery of this monumental
structure was due to the correspondence of what appears to have been the
terminal angle of this section towards the North-West with a prolongation
of the line pursued by the Stepped Portico on the opposite side of the glen.
Some direct connexion must surely have existed. But the Portico and an
adjoining road pavement immediately West of it, to which attention will be
drawn below, as well as the supporting embankment wall, owe their original
construction to the enterprise and engineering skill that produced the Early
Palace itself and to which they integrally belong. They immediately over-
lay indeed remains of what has been termed above the proto-Palatial Class,
dating from the earlier phase, a, of M. M. I.
In any case it is clear from the evidence put together in the preceding
Section that an important roadway approached the Palace site from the
South long before the beginning of the Late Minoan Age. We have indeed
seen that on a series of stations along the great transit route across the
Island, sherds occurred belonging not only to the Middle but to the earlier
part of the Early Minoan Age.
corre-
sponds
with
destruc-
tion of
Later
Palace.
Strong
presump-
tion that
original
elements
of struc-
ture date
from
founda-
tion of
Palace.
that were in existence in the last Middle Minoan Period. We may infer
that the Viaduct in its final form dates from the beginning of the Late
Minoan Age.
These ceramic materials, though abundantly forthcoming in the upper
part of the deposit, especially in connexion with the two Easternmost piers,
do not extend below the level of the lowest of the steps in the interval
between them. In part at least it may well stand in relation to some
restoration of the upper part of the structure at the beginning of the Late
Minoan Age, consequent on an overthrow similar to that of which we have
evidence beneath the next section. The fact that no sherds are later than
the close of L. M. II may also be taken as an indication that the Viaduct
went out of use about the date of the destruction of the Palace itself.
There is nothing to warrant us in going beyond this and concluding
from the association of L. M. I—11 pottery with the upper part of the remains
that the original structure itself belonged to the same late epoch. It has
indeed already been noted that the comparative roughness of the lower
courses itself points to an earlier date than some of the more finished
work above. We have seen that the actual discovery of this monumental
structure was due to the correspondence of what appears to have been the
terminal angle of this section towards the North-West with a prolongation
of the line pursued by the Stepped Portico on the opposite side of the glen.
Some direct connexion must surely have existed. But the Portico and an
adjoining road pavement immediately West of it, to which attention will be
drawn below, as well as the supporting embankment wall, owe their original
construction to the enterprise and engineering skill that produced the Early
Palace itself and to which they integrally belong. They immediately over-
lay indeed remains of what has been termed above the proto-Palatial Class,
dating from the earlier phase, a, of M. M. I.
In any case it is clear from the evidence put together in the preceding
Section that an important roadway approached the Palace site from the
South long before the beginning of the Late Minoan Age. We have indeed
seen that on a series of stations along the great transit route across the
Island, sherds occurred belonging not only to the Middle but to the earlier
part of the Early Minoan Age.