DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3005#0006
6 UNIVERSITY MUSEUM—ANTHROPOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS, VOL. VII
in turn, gave much. We find both Cretan objects on Egyptian
sites and vice versa. It is therefore not unlikely that, in Minoan
times, this trade route across the Isthmus played its part in the
communication between the two countries which would account
for the numerous Minoan settlements that are constantly coming
to light at the head of the gulf of Mirabello.
In 1902-1904 Mrs. Hawes and her expedition excavated
the prosperous and well-preserved town site of Gournia on the
coast and another site, Vasiliki, which lies a mile or so inland
on the Isthmus.
In 1907 Pseira, a settlement on a small rocky island lying
in the gulf opposite the Isthmus, was cleared and since then
evidence has accumulated which shows that villages of more or
less importance existed in the Kavusi valley, at Vrai'ka,
Monasteraki and Pachyammos with which last this report
is chiefly concerned.
These sites, Gournia, Pachyammos, Vasiliki, Monasteraki,
Vrai'ka and Kavusi all lie within a radius of three miles on the
northern end of the Isthmus while Pseira, the island site, is also
close at hand. The land along this part of the coast is not
particularly fertile and suffers greatly from winter storms which
drive the salt spray far inland thus blighting the crops. Today
only three of these sites are inhabited villages, Kavusi, Vasiliki
and Monasteraki. The first two contain roughly 800 and 400
people respectively. Monasteraki can boast of only a dozen
families. Pachyammos is the modern port and when I saw it
first in 1903 it consisted of a few warehouses and a couple of
roadside inns though it now contains ten dwelling houses.
It is clear therefore that the present day population of this
district is less than in Minoan times and the fertility of the soil
does not seem to warrant a larger one. We must infer that its
in turn, gave much. We find both Cretan objects on Egyptian
sites and vice versa. It is therefore not unlikely that, in Minoan
times, this trade route across the Isthmus played its part in the
communication between the two countries which would account
for the numerous Minoan settlements that are constantly coming
to light at the head of the gulf of Mirabello.
In 1902-1904 Mrs. Hawes and her expedition excavated
the prosperous and well-preserved town site of Gournia on the
coast and another site, Vasiliki, which lies a mile or so inland
on the Isthmus.
In 1907 Pseira, a settlement on a small rocky island lying
in the gulf opposite the Isthmus, was cleared and since then
evidence has accumulated which shows that villages of more or
less importance existed in the Kavusi valley, at Vrai'ka,
Monasteraki and Pachyammos with which last this report
is chiefly concerned.
These sites, Gournia, Pachyammos, Vasiliki, Monasteraki,
Vrai'ka and Kavusi all lie within a radius of three miles on the
northern end of the Isthmus while Pseira, the island site, is also
close at hand. The land along this part of the coast is not
particularly fertile and suffers greatly from winter storms which
drive the salt spray far inland thus blighting the crops. Today
only three of these sites are inhabited villages, Kavusi, Vasiliki
and Monasteraki. The first two contain roughly 800 and 400
people respectively. Monasteraki can boast of only a dozen
families. Pachyammos is the modern port and when I saw it
first in 1903 it consisted of a few warehouses and a couple of
roadside inns though it now contains ten dwelling houses.
It is clear therefore that the present day population of this
district is less than in Minoan times and the fertility of the soil
does not seem to warrant a larger one. We must infer that its