DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7518#0015
10
PREFACE
personal 'one', which always seems so lonely, secondly the use
of 'we', which is undoubtedly the cause of so many single
visitors looking uneasily over their shoulders for some unseen
companion.
The excavation of the Palace of Minos at Knossos is one of
the most important historical events of the century. Schlie-
mann, with his extraordinary flair, had intended to dig here,
but at that time the political and other difficulties to be faced
were insuperable. Sir Arthur Evans had spent some years
travelling in the island, collecting seal-stones and evidences of
the prehistoric script which they betrayed. In 1894 he had
gained a foothold on the site, and when conditions became
easier, on the arrival of Prince George, in 1900 he began the
systematic excavation of Knossos. At first a Cretan Exploration
Fund was formed, but for many years now Sir Arthur has
borne the expense as well as the glory of the work.
Thanks to his labours and those of his assistant, Dr. Duncan
Mackenzie, the prehistoric civilization of Crete has been
revealed. His fellow workers in the field of Minoan archaeology
have made discoveries of the utmost importance for the illumi-
nation of particular periods and sites; but nowhere, save at
Knossos, is the whole evidence to hand, and if Knossos was the
only site excavated we should still have a clear historical
outline.
The difficulties of excavation have been many. Succeeding
periods have left succeeding floor levels which must be dis-
entangled, and the mere technical problems, such as the clearing
of the Grand Staircase, were enormous.
With a building such as this, rising many stories in height,
it has always been a question of how to preserve the evidence
of upper floors. This has been solved by roofing in various
parts of the palace and by raising to their proper level the door-
jambs, column-bases, and paving-blocks which had fallen into
the rooms below.
Without restoration the Palace would be a meaningless heap
PREFACE
personal 'one', which always seems so lonely, secondly the use
of 'we', which is undoubtedly the cause of so many single
visitors looking uneasily over their shoulders for some unseen
companion.
The excavation of the Palace of Minos at Knossos is one of
the most important historical events of the century. Schlie-
mann, with his extraordinary flair, had intended to dig here,
but at that time the political and other difficulties to be faced
were insuperable. Sir Arthur Evans had spent some years
travelling in the island, collecting seal-stones and evidences of
the prehistoric script which they betrayed. In 1894 he had
gained a foothold on the site, and when conditions became
easier, on the arrival of Prince George, in 1900 he began the
systematic excavation of Knossos. At first a Cretan Exploration
Fund was formed, but for many years now Sir Arthur has
borne the expense as well as the glory of the work.
Thanks to his labours and those of his assistant, Dr. Duncan
Mackenzie, the prehistoric civilization of Crete has been
revealed. His fellow workers in the field of Minoan archaeology
have made discoveries of the utmost importance for the illumi-
nation of particular periods and sites; but nowhere, save at
Knossos, is the whole evidence to hand, and if Knossos was the
only site excavated we should still have a clear historical
outline.
The difficulties of excavation have been many. Succeeding
periods have left succeeding floor levels which must be dis-
entangled, and the mere technical problems, such as the clearing
of the Grand Staircase, were enormous.
With a building such as this, rising many stories in height,
it has always been a question of how to preserve the evidence
of upper floors. This has been solved by roofing in various
parts of the palace and by raising to their proper level the door-
jambs, column-bases, and paving-blocks which had fallen into
the rooms below.
Without restoration the Palace would be a meaningless heap