Recent Excavations
The island of Crete has always been the top destination of tourists and visitors on their quest for cheap holidays to Greece, being the largest and most popular of the islands of Greece. Crete is also the birthplace of a number of highly regarded civilizations, the most notable of which are the Minoan and the Apterian civilizations which flourished before the time of the invasion of Rome and the Byzantine Empire. The imprints of these empires can still be seen today in the remains of a number of buildings as well as cultural figures and various monuments found throughout the island.
At Aptera two large funerary monuments, one with an underground burial chamber, have been discovered by archaeologists in the fortress of the ancient city of Aptera. The monuments are thought to date from the 1st or 2nd century AD, although the underground chamber was probably constructed in the Hellenistic period.
The final stage of the work, being carried out by the 25th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, is aimed at highlighting the site in general and more specifically at stabilizing the very tall architectural structures and uncovering the wall. The discovery of these graves, along with other smaller findings, is important partly insofar as they are easily accessible from the town of Chania.
The excavations revealed the total length of the fortress (3,480 meters), which dates from shortly after the middle of the 4th century BC. Work has focused on the western side of the fortress, where the town’s western cemetery begins.
The excavations, directed by archaeologist Vanna Niniou-Kindeli, first came upon one of the city gates and a rectangular tower. Strata-bearing traces of battles during the Hellenistic period were found, along with traces of the graves of newborn infants in the second half of the 4th century near the tower.
Next to the heroes' monument discovered during work carried out under the European Union’s Second Community Support Framework, two large grave monuments were found in good condition.
At Aptera two large funerary monuments, one with an underground burial chamber, have been discovered by archaeologists in the fortress of the ancient city of Aptera. The monuments are thought to date from the 1st or 2nd century AD, although the underground chamber was probably constructed in the Hellenistic period.
The final stage of the work, being carried out by the 25th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, is aimed at highlighting the site in general and more specifically at stabilizing the very tall architectural structures and uncovering the wall. The discovery of these graves, along with other smaller findings, is important partly insofar as they are easily accessible from the town of Chania.
The excavations revealed the total length of the fortress (3,480 meters), which dates from shortly after the middle of the 4th century BC. Work has focused on the western side of the fortress, where the town’s western cemetery begins.
The excavations, directed by archaeologist Vanna Niniou-Kindeli, first came upon one of the city gates and a rectangular tower. Strata-bearing traces of battles during the Hellenistic period were found, along with traces of the graves of newborn infants in the second half of the 4th century near the tower.
Next to the heroes' monument discovered during work carried out under the European Union’s Second Community Support Framework, two large grave monuments were found in good condition.
Mausoleum
The more impressive of the two, according to the experts, has a well-constructed underground mausoleum accessed by a staircase and antechamber. It is constructed of large stone plinths. Nails are still fixed in the walls for hanging lamps. In the main chamber are four stone graves which were partly looted in the 6th or 7th century AD, when other graves on the site were dug.
The two monuments probably date from the 1st-2nd centuries AD, although the underground monument might have been constructed during the Hellenistic period. Other items found include slabs, pots, lamps, pellets for catapults and coins. The project directed by Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki, will cost 880,441 Euros.
The two monuments probably date from the 1st-2nd centuries AD, although the underground monument might have been constructed during the Hellenistic period. Other items found include slabs, pots, lamps, pellets for catapults and coins. The project directed by Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki, will cost 880,441 Euros.
