ON EXPLORATIONS AT KNOSSOS IN CRETE, 469 



Axe must be regarded as a striking corroboration of the explorer's views 

 as to its identification with the traditional labyrinth, and of the philo- 

 logical connection of the latter with the labrys, or double axe, arrived at 

 independently by Max Meyer and Kretschmer on philological grounds. 



One very important result of this year's excavations has been the dis- 

 covery of a whole system of chambers and magazines below the level of 

 the later building. This shows, as is also proved by the abundance of 

 re-used blocks with more primitive signs, that an earlier palace had 

 existed on the site. The magazines belonging to this earlier building 

 were full of the remains of painted pottery belonging to the purer 

 ' Kamares ' class, and of finer fabric than the more transitional and later 

 offshoots of the class found in some magazines brought to light this year in 

 the south-east quarter of the second palace. Some of the earlier painted 

 vases found in the magazines of this lower building are of an egg-shell- 

 like fineness of fabric, an elegance of shape, and delicacy of colouring 

 that was never certainly surpassed in the whole history of ceramic manu- 

 facture. Many are embossed in evident imitation of metal-work. We 

 have here the proof of a highly developed ' Minoan ' culture going back 

 at least to the middle of the third millennium B.C. 



Below this ' first palace ' structure, again, the remains of the extensive 

 Neolithic settlement that underlies the whole site everywhere came to 

 light. A considerable harvest of stone implements, primitive pottery, 

 and ' idols ' of clay, marble, and shell was obtained from this Neolithic 

 deposit. Fragments of obsidian vases derived from the first palace are of 

 the Liparite type, unknown in the ^gean, and must have been imported 

 from the Italian island. 



Owing to the constant need of propping up the upper storeys and 

 supporting terraces, much of the work has been of a difficult, and at 

 times dangerous, nature, entailing a vast amount of actual construction 

 in wood, stone, and brick. The shrine, like the Throne Room, had to be 

 roofed over. Vast masses of earth had also to be removed from parts of 

 the site, and nearly 2.50 workmen, including over a score of masons and 

 carpenters, were constantly employed. Throughout the whole Mr. Evans 

 had the devoted assistance of Dr. Mackenzie in superintending the 

 excavation, and of Mr. Fyfe on the architectural and engineering side. 



The excavation of the south-east corner of the palace has still to be 

 completed, and some works of delimitation must be carried out in other 

 directions. The search for tombs must certainly be renewed, and the 

 lower palace strata have also still to be explored at several points, and 

 more ' Kaselles ' opened. Continued researches into the Neolithic deposit 

 are also desirable, as well as the examination of some neighbouring 

 buildings. Unfortunately the total amount that the Cretan Exploration 

 Fund — including the British Association grant — was able to contribute 

 towards the year's expenses has again fallen far short of what the explorer 

 has found it necessary to expend. 



[A fuller preliminary account of these excavations, with illustrations, 

 will appear in the ' Annual of the British School of Archaeology,' 

 vol. viii., and a complete account of the whole Palace of Knossos in an 

 independent volume eventually.] 



