402 EEPOET — 1903. 



Archteological and Etlonoloi/ical Researches in Crete. — Report of the 

 Gommittee, consistimj of 8ir JoHN Kvans (Ghairma.n), Mr. J. L. 

 Myres (Secreiari/), Mr. A. J. Evans, Mr, D. G. Hocurth, Pro- 

 fessor A. Macalister, and Professor W. Eidgeway. 



The grant which was assigned to the Committee was applied in equal 

 parts in aid of two distinct researches : — 



(1) To enable Mr. Arthur Evans to continue his excavation of the 

 Palace of Knossos and its surroundings a sum of 501. was paid over to 

 the treasurer of the Cretan Exploration Fund and duly expended in the 

 campaign of 1903. Mr. Evans's report is appended. 



(2) The other sum of .50^. was placed at the disposal of Mr. W. L. H. 

 Duckworth, M.A., Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, and University 

 Lecturer in Anthropology, who undertook in consideration of this grant 

 and of a grant from the British School of Archaeology in Athens to make 

 a study of the human remains which were being discovered in prehistoric 

 burial-places in the British School's excavations at PahBokastro, in Eastern 

 Crete ; and also to make a preliminary study of the anthropography of 

 modern Crete and other parts of the ^gean area. Mr. Duckworth's 

 report of his investigation is appended. 



The Committee ask to be reappointed, with a further grant, 



(1) Mr. Arthur Evans's Excavations at Knossos.^ 



It had seemed to the excavator possible that this year's campaign in 

 the prehistoric palace at Knossos might have definitely comjileted the 

 work. But the excavations took a wholly unlooked-for development, 

 productive of results of first-rate importance both on the architectural 

 and general archaeological side, and calling still for supplementary 

 researches of considerable and indeed, at present, incalculable extent. 



The search for the tombs, which was principally carried out in the 

 region north of the Palace, only resulted in the discovery of a necropolis 

 of secondary interest in a much destroyed condition. At the same time 

 remains of houses were brought to light, going back to the earliest 

 Minoan period and proving the continuous extension of the prehistoric 

 city for a distance of over a quarter of a mile north-east of the Palace. 



At its north-western angle the Palace area itself has gained a monu- 

 mental accession. The building proved to extend beyond the paved 

 . court which lies on this side, and excavation here brought to light what 

 can only be regarded as the royal theatre. This consists of two tiers of 

 limestone steps, eighteen in number and 30 feet in width on the east 

 side, varying from six to three, with an extension of .50 feet on the 

 south, while between the two is a raised square platform. The steps or 

 low seats and platform ovei'look a square ai'ea where the shows Jiiust 

 have taken place. Owing to the made character of the ground to the 

 north-east the limestone slabs on that side had either disappeared or were 

 brought out in a much disintegrated condition, and it was found neces- 

 sary for the conservation of the rest of the monument to undertake 

 coxisiderable restoration. This was, however, facilitated by the fact that 



' Cf. Proc. Brit. Assoc. ^ 1908 (Belfast), p. 466, and previous reports. 



