Farmer discovers Late Minoan III larnax burials in southern Crete

A farmer in Kentri Ierapetra on the Greek island of Crete attempted to park his vehicle in the shade of an olive tree and by pure chance, the over-irrigated dirt under his vehicle revealed a carved tombstone of the Late Minoan III period.

Credit: Nikos Petassis/Facebook

“It is a great day for Ierapetra,” said the deputy mayor of Local Communities, Agrarian and Tourism of Ierapetra, Argyris Pantazis.

In the grave, that had not been ransacked, archaeologists discovered two large Larnakes Late Minoan period embossed depictions that are in excellent condition.

Credit: Nikos Petassis/Facebook

In addition, there were two skeletons found in the graves and about 24 vases with coloured embossings and depictions.

“Soil retreat was a result of the watering of the olive trees in the area as well as a broken irrigation tube. The ground had partially receded, and when the farmer tried to park in the shade of the olive tree, he then completely retreated the soil below. Archaeologists were immediately called up and…it was discovered that this is a serious archaeological find,” Pantazis said.

Credit: Nikos Petassis/Facebook

A team made up of 15 students from various archaeology schools along with the head of the Lassithi Ephorate of Commerce, Chrysa Sofianou, and the Professor of Archaeology at the University of Athens, Mr. Yannis Papadatos, have launched an excavation at the site.

This tomb is a rare find, as Sofianou explained to neakriti.gr. Archaeologists hope to find new evidence of the Late Minoan period in the area.

Credit: cretapost.gr

“[It] is a unique vaulted tomb, four metres long, which does not belong to the burial of a lord of that period, but of the Late Minoan III period (1500-1400 BC) to a common mortal.”

Author: Kerry Kolasa-Sikiaridi | Source: Greek Reporter [August 08, 2018]