ON ARCHAZOLOGICAL AND ETHNOLOGICAL RESEARCHES IN CRETE. 209 
APPENDIX. 
Excavations at Knossos in Crete, 1905. By Dr. Artuur J. Evans. 
The exploration of the magazines on the Minoan paved way West of 
the Palace was continued, and further inscribed tablets and sealings were 
brought to light. It was ascertained that the system of magazines 
extended Westward along both sides of the ancient roadway. The paved 
way itself was traced further West, and its principal objective discovered 
in the shape of a large building running deep into the hillside opposite 
the Palace. Owing to the magnitude and expense of the work, only a 
part of this could be explored. A columnar court opening by five 
spacious doorways into a large. hall flanked by a portico formed the 
eastern section of the building. Beyond were various chambers, a triple 
staircase, and the beginning of a facade wall on the South, resembling on 
a smaller scale the west wall of the Palace. 
The building belonged to the Later Palace period, but had been 
reoccupied by poorer settlers in mature Mycenexan times (Late Minoan 
III.) and divided up into smaller compartments. To the later arrange: 
ment belongs a shrine of great interest containing fetish images in the 
shape of natural stones (stalagmitic blocks) of quasi-human form—a 
Mother-Goddess and infant, besides other small figures. With these was 
a rude terra-cotta goat. We have here a primitive anticipation of the 
traditional Cretan cult of Rhea and the infant Zeus. Impressions of the 
original wooden columns of the chamber were found, showing fluting in 
relief, a new feature in Minoan architecture, and of Egyptian derivation. 
Parts of inscribed tablets and sealings came to light belonging to both 
periods of the building, and supplying new chronological standpoints. A 
large seal-impression belonging to the early stratum (Late Minoan I. 
and II.) showed a horse above a ship with rowers, and illustrates the first 
importation of horses into Crete. 
Further stratigraphical explorations in the west court of the Palace 
brought to light a floor of the First Middle Minoan period, with numerous 
vessels in position, including the finest painted vase of this period yet 
discovered. 
An exceptionally rainy season led to the falling in of the second 
landing of the grand staircase of the palace, and threatened the de- 
struction of the upper flight and balustrades. It became necessary to 
resort to heroic measures ; and, as the wooden props had proved insufficient, 
I decided to remove temporarily the upper flight, to excavate completely 
the débris still partly covering the lowest flight of steps, and finally to 
replace the upper part of the structure at its original level. The removal 
of the fallen materials below led to the discovery of a second and lower 
ascending balustrade with sockets containing the charred remains of the 
original columns. The restoration of these—in stone, however, in place of 
wood—formed the obviously proper method of resupporting the upper 
structures. For this very complicated work I secured the services of Mr. 
C. C. T. Doll, architectural student of the British School at Athens, who 
has carried it out with great success, the stones of the upper flight of stairs 
and balustrade being all numbered and reset in their original positions. 
It was found necessary to extend this reconstitution to the neighbouring 
Upper Corridor and the Hall of the Colonnades. The result of this very 
extensive undertaking has been practically to restore the original appear- 
1905. P 
