46,6 REPORT— 1902. 



evidence, however, is that to which reference was made in the report of 

 the Committee for last year, viz., that a Bi'onze Age tumulus was 

 certainly constructed out of material derived from a portion of the original 

 structure of the earthwork encircling the stone circle. For reasons given 

 in last year's report, it seems fair to assume that the tumulus must be 

 considerably later than the circle, and, in view of this piece of evidence, 

 it is reasonable to assign the date of construction of the circle to a period 

 not later than the early Bronze Age. If, as has been urged by some, the 

 hnds from the tumulus are themselves to be regarded as belonging to the 

 early Bronze period, then the probability of the circle being of Neolithic 

 date is much increased. The discovery of red-deer antlers in two portions 

 of the fosse may point to their having been employed for purposes of 

 excavation ; a practice which was certainly a common one in Neolithic 

 times. Unfortunately the fragmentary nature of the horns discovered 

 prevents there being any certainty as to their having been so used, and 

 their presence, while possibly having some significance, cannot be advanced 

 as important evidence. 



On the whole, therefore, the evidence so far acquired seems to indicate 

 that the date of construction of Arbor Low stone circle should be located 

 within the period covered by the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze periods. 

 It would probably be unsafe, on the available evidence, to attempt a closer 

 approximation, since the greater part of the monument still remains 

 unexplored. 



On Explorations at Knossos in Crete. — Repori of the Coinmiitee, 

 consisting of Sir John Evans (Chairman), Mr. J. L. Myres 

 (Secretary),'^ M.r. A. J. Evans, Mr. D. CI. Hogarth, Professor 

 A. Macalister, and Professor W. Ridge way. (Dratvn zip by Mr. 

 A. J. Evans.) 



The work at Knossos, which was begun on February 12 last and was 

 continued until the end of June, has been fertile in results beyond all 

 anticipation. It seemed at first destined to be rather a campaign of 

 finishing up and of rounding oflt' a fairly ascertained area. But besides 

 the chambers that remained to be explored immediately contiguous to 

 the Hall of the Double Axes and that of the Colonnades, excavated last 

 year, the whole building was found to have a considerably larger exten- 

 sion on the eastern side than had been expected. The building was 

 thus seen to have climbed down the slope in descending terraces to a 

 point some SO metres east of the northern entrance. 



Considerable remains were uncovered of the eastern boundary wall, 

 or rather of four separate walls in immediate contiguity to each other. 

 The ' Hall of the Double Axes,' excavated last year, was found to have a 

 double portico at its farther end facing both south and east. In the 

 south wall of this megaron there had been visible last year a doorway 

 leading to a finely paved passage with a ' dog's leg ' turn so constructed 

 as to ensure the privacy of the chamber beyond. The chamber thus 

 approached has proved to be of quite original construction. It is flanked 

 on two sides by a stylobate, which also served as a bench, between the 

 pillars of which light was obtained, on the one side from a portico with 

 two column-bases, on the other from an area the farther wall of which 



