DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9189#0009
EDITH H. HALL—EXCAVATIONS IN EASTERN CRETE.
45
THE SPHOUNGARAS SLOPE AND ITS DEPOSITS
The Sphoungaras slope, like many other steep hillsides of
Crete, had been stripped of most of its soil. In this process of
denudation the higher parts of the hill had become quite bare
except here and there where the slipping soil had found lodgment
against a boulder, or just below the cliffs where the overhanging
rock protected the earth below. Near the foot of the hill the
deposit of earth was sufficient to cover the tall burial jars,
although some of these lay only a few inches below the surface
• where, in view of the centuries during which this field had
undergone cultivation, it seemed incredible that a plough had
not reached them. The upper part of the hill had suffered not
only from the denudation of its soil, but also from the falling
of boulders from the cliffs, which had seemingly broken up
whatever pottery had not already been washed down the hill.
The number of potsherds strewn about the lower slope bore
witness to the extent of the havoc. Thus, when in the course
of the excavations the upper part of the slope was reached,
the deposit of earth together with the ancient remains came
abruptly to an end and we saw that the area where the soil was
deep enough to make excavations possible was confined to a
comparatively narrow belt. There were however these excep-
tions: just outside the cave which had been partially cleared by
Mrs. Hawes, was found a considerable Early Minoan deposit
(B on plan, PI. XV); at the top of the hill between the cliff and
some boulders (C on plan) were found three pithoi together with
fragments of others and as many as 8 skulls; lastly, some metres
to the south—outside the limits of the plan—were found broken
remnants of both Early and Late Minoan burials, which were
evidently in their original position but had been crushed by
fallen rocks.
The interments could be divided into two main classes,
(i) burials in the earth without pithoi, the general area of
which is marked on the plan by hatched lines, and (2) burials in
45
THE SPHOUNGARAS SLOPE AND ITS DEPOSITS
The Sphoungaras slope, like many other steep hillsides of
Crete, had been stripped of most of its soil. In this process of
denudation the higher parts of the hill had become quite bare
except here and there where the slipping soil had found lodgment
against a boulder, or just below the cliffs where the overhanging
rock protected the earth below. Near the foot of the hill the
deposit of earth was sufficient to cover the tall burial jars,
although some of these lay only a few inches below the surface
• where, in view of the centuries during which this field had
undergone cultivation, it seemed incredible that a plough had
not reached them. The upper part of the hill had suffered not
only from the denudation of its soil, but also from the falling
of boulders from the cliffs, which had seemingly broken up
whatever pottery had not already been washed down the hill.
The number of potsherds strewn about the lower slope bore
witness to the extent of the havoc. Thus, when in the course
of the excavations the upper part of the slope was reached,
the deposit of earth together with the ancient remains came
abruptly to an end and we saw that the area where the soil was
deep enough to make excavations possible was confined to a
comparatively narrow belt. There were however these excep-
tions: just outside the cave which had been partially cleared by
Mrs. Hawes, was found a considerable Early Minoan deposit
(B on plan, PI. XV); at the top of the hill between the cliff and
some boulders (C on plan) were found three pithoi together with
fragments of others and as many as 8 skulls; lastly, some metres
to the south—outside the limits of the plan—were found broken
remnants of both Early and Late Minoan burials, which were
evidently in their original position but had been crushed by
fallen rocks.
The interments could be divided into two main classes,
(i) burials in the earth without pithoi, the general area of
which is marked on the plan by hatched lines, and (2) burials in