A Neopalatial court-centered building at Sissi (northeastern Crete)?
(2014) 115th AIA and APA Joint Annual Meeting — Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA (2.January.2014)
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- Abstract
- Since 2007, the Belgian School at Athens has brought to light the remains of a Minoan settlement and associated cemetery at Sissi, northeastern Crete. The site, located only 4 km to the east of the palatial center of Malia, occupies a low coastal hill locally known as the Kephali. The strategic location of Kephali Hill, at the crossroads of important Minoan communication routes, as well as its proximity to Malia, offers a unique opportunity to study the relationship between a major palatial center and its immediate hinterland. Excavations on Kephali Hill hence allowed us to suggest that Sissi was probably the second most important settlement after Malia from 2600 to 1450 B.C.E. and the most important center of the Malia Plain from 1450 to 1200 B.C.E. Our understanding of the interactions between Sissi and Malia took a major turn in 2011 when excavations on the southern slope of Kephali Hill revealed extensive Neopalatial (ca. 1700–1450 B.C.E.) architectural remains suggesting the presence of a small court-centered building. The east wing of the building—the only one excavated thus far—was apparently built on top of Protopalatial (ca. 1900–1700 B.C.E.) structures showing a series of long, parallel spaces. Unfortunately, extensive Postpalatial (Late Minoan IIIA2/B, ca. 1370–1200 B.C.E.) occupation of the sector led to the loss of most original contexts. Nevertheless, localized soundings allowed us to identify a large rectangular pebble court (9.7 x at least 20 m) forming the core of the Neopalatial complex. The court is oriented 16.5° to the east of north and aligns with the top of the nearby mountains. An approximately 19 m long limestone plinth or euthynteria faces the court to the east. To the west, a sandstone ashlar wall running parallel to the euthynteria may represent another facade lining the pebble court. Although the function(s) of the court remain unclear, a large kernos and a bench made of limestone slabs with hollowed-out depressions suggest ritual activities. If confirmed by future investigations, the presence of a small Neopalatial court-centered building at Sissi may invite reconsideration of the role of this settlement in the political geography of the assumed Malia state. Interestingly, the close distance between Sissi and Malia parallels situations encountered elsewhere on Crete, such as between Knossos and Archanes or between Phaistos and Hagia Triada.
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Jusseret, S. (2014). A Neopalatial court-centered building at Sissi (northeastern Crete)? 115th AIA and APA Joint Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, USA. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/67569