The Discovery at Papoura Hill

Ongoing excavations on the summit of Papoura Hill, situated at an altitude of 494 meters northwest of Kastelli town and near the construction site of a new airport runway, have unveiled a monumental architectural complex. This circular structure, unique in Minoan archaeology, has a diameter of approximately 48 meters and covers an area of around 1800 square meters. Located at the highest point of the hill, this site was originally expropriated for the installation of surveillance systems (radar) for the new airport.

Architectural Details

This monumental structure consists of eight concentric stone rings with an average thickness of 1.40 meters and a maximum estimated height of 1.7 meters, developed on different elevation levels. At the center, these rings form a circular building (Zone A) with a diameter of 15 meters, constructed with corbelled masonry. The interior of Zone A, with a diameter of 9 meters, is divided into four quadrants. Zone A is surrounded by a second main zone (Zone B), with a maximum width of 6.9 meters, where radial walls intersect the lower-level rings, creating smaller spaces. As the excavation progresses, a labyrinthine arrangement is revealed, with narrow openings connecting the spaces. Two potential main entrances to the central zones have been discovered on the southwest and northwest sides.

Historical Context

The primary period of use appears to be between 2000 and 1700 BCE, likely founded just before or at the beginning of the Protopalatial period (Middle Minoan I–II). The presence of Neopalatial pottery in the destruction layer indicates that the monument continued to be used during the period of the new palaces.

Official Inspection and Future Plans

To evaluate and plan the continuation of the airport construction, a comprehensive meeting and site inspection were held, involving all stakeholders, including Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni and Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Nikos Tachiaos. During the meeting, Mendoni emphasized the need to continue the excavation to interpret and preserve the find, given its uniqueness. Although the airport construction must proceed, the archaeological find must be protected, necessitating the search for an alternative location for the radar installation. The two ministers agreed that the Civil Aviation Authority would soon submit a new study for the radar's placement to the Ministry of Culture.

After the site inspection, Minister Mendoni stated:

"This is a unique find of exceptional interest. There are solutions to complete the archaeological research and protect the monument entirely. We have excellent cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and Deputy Minister Nikos Tachiaos. Our priority is the protection of the monument and this unique find. Everyone understands the importance and value of cultural heritage and the developmental significance of this project in Kastelli. The new airport project can proceed, and the antiquities can be protected as they should."

Ongoing Excavations

As the excavation is still ongoing, it is currently impossible to determine the original form or total height of the structure. The roofing of the central zone, indicated by the corbelled system, was likely either a truncated cone or a dome. Zones A and B, formed by the upper rings, seem to be the main focus of activities. The quantity and type of finds, as well as the presence of a large amount of animal bones, suggest that the site was not used continuously for habitation but likely for periodic ritual events involving food and wine consumption and offerings.

Significance and Parallels

This is the first monument of its type to be discovered and excavated in Crete. Its size, architectural complexity, and meticulous construction imply significant labor, specialized expertise, and strong central authority. It is likely a communal building serving as a landmark for the wider Pediada region. The monumental and prominent nature of the construction suggests its importance and the extent of the population it served.

The layout and structure of the monument, as revealed so far, do not have precise parallels in other buildings of the same period in Crete. However, its shape is not unknown from architectural complexes of the Early Bronze Age in the Near East. It may be compared to the elliptical Middle Minoan building at Chamaizi and the circular Cyclopean building of Tiryns. Similarities are also noted with tholos tombs from the Prepalatial and Protopalatial periods of southern Crete, where the central space is constructed with corbelled masonry, resembling Early Helladic and later tumuli in mainland Greece or later circular sanctuaries like Thesmophoria.

Importance of Continuing Excavation

Completing the excavation is essential to clarifying the character of the monument and its relationship with residential and religious centers of the same period in the Pediada area. The monumentality of the structure and the fact that no similar structure has been excavated so far make it a landmark for the new Heraklion Airport.

The archaeological investigations for the construction of the New International Airport of Heraklion in Kastelli, Minos Pediada Municipality, and its connecting roads with the main road axes of the Heraklion Region are being conducted by the Heraklion Ephorate of Antiquities under a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. These have a rescue nature, with more than 35 archaeological sites investigated and handed over for the continuation of the project, according to the existing legal framework.