DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7519#0082
THE EARLY MINOAN PERIOD
47
B. THE EARLY MINOAN PERIOD
I. EARLY MINOAN I (E.M.l)
{See Map 4)
The First Early Minoan Period is in the nature of a tran-
sition from the Neolithic to the full Copper Age of Early
Minoan n. The earlier stages, indeed, are rather to be styled
Sub-Neolithic, a stage which seems to have lasted for a con-
siderable period in the centre of the island.
The balance of power and the progressive force of culture
has swung away to the East and it did not return to the centre
for many years.
Ten sites in the East have been at least partially excavated,
while from two more come chance finds. Eight excavated
sites lie in the South, while four more await the excavator. In
the centre of the island are twelve excavated sites and chance
finds from four more. One excavated and one unexcavated
site lie to the West of Ida. In contrast to the Neolithic Age
the settlements seem to be chosen for their accessibility from
the sea. The exceptions are either sacred or sepulchral caves
such as Arkalokhori and Stravomyti, or where a flourishing
population has expanded along an easy route as in the Messara,
and in Lasithi.
Of the architecture of the period we know practically nothing, e.m.i
At Knossos the houses were swept away to make room for Arch"'
the Central Court of the first Palace. No walls survived in
conjunction with the earliest deposit at Vasilike. The scanti-
ness of the E.M.i deposits in the Messara forbids us to
attribute to this period the building of any of the circular
tombs. At Mokhlos alone were found traces of rectangular
stone houses which seemed to be connected with the small
E.M.i deposit in the town.
To compensate for this, however, a greater number of e.m.i
graves are found. These occur in rock shelters and caves Graves
at Miamou, Trapeza, Zakros, Sphoungaras, Agia Photia, and
Agios Nikolaos near Palaikastro. At the last-named site an
examination of the human remains was possible, resulting in
the discovery that the skulls were all of a pronounced doli-
chocephalic type, with long narrow faces, and that the average
47
B. THE EARLY MINOAN PERIOD
I. EARLY MINOAN I (E.M.l)
{See Map 4)
The First Early Minoan Period is in the nature of a tran-
sition from the Neolithic to the full Copper Age of Early
Minoan n. The earlier stages, indeed, are rather to be styled
Sub-Neolithic, a stage which seems to have lasted for a con-
siderable period in the centre of the island.
The balance of power and the progressive force of culture
has swung away to the East and it did not return to the centre
for many years.
Ten sites in the East have been at least partially excavated,
while from two more come chance finds. Eight excavated
sites lie in the South, while four more await the excavator. In
the centre of the island are twelve excavated sites and chance
finds from four more. One excavated and one unexcavated
site lie to the West of Ida. In contrast to the Neolithic Age
the settlements seem to be chosen for their accessibility from
the sea. The exceptions are either sacred or sepulchral caves
such as Arkalokhori and Stravomyti, or where a flourishing
population has expanded along an easy route as in the Messara,
and in Lasithi.
Of the architecture of the period we know practically nothing, e.m.i
At Knossos the houses were swept away to make room for Arch"'
the Central Court of the first Palace. No walls survived in
conjunction with the earliest deposit at Vasilike. The scanti-
ness of the E.M.i deposits in the Messara forbids us to
attribute to this period the building of any of the circular
tombs. At Mokhlos alone were found traces of rectangular
stone houses which seemed to be connected with the small
E.M.i deposit in the town.
To compensate for this, however, a greater number of e.m.i
graves are found. These occur in rock shelters and caves Graves
at Miamou, Trapeza, Zakros, Sphoungaras, Agia Photia, and
Agios Nikolaos near Palaikastro. At the last-named site an
examination of the human remains was possible, resulting in
the discovery that the skulls were all of a pronounced doli-
chocephalic type, with long narrow faces, and that the average