Archaeologists reported that they have found a 4,000-year-old circular structure on a hilltop in Greece, which may have been used for rituals by the ancient Minoans.
This significant find, located at the highest point of Papoura Hill, is a part of the continuous excavations required to build a new airport.
In a translated statement released on Tuesday, June 11, the Greek Ministry of Culture officials said the building is almost labyrinthine, hinting at the fabled maze constructed for King Minos of Crete. It comprises eight superimposed stone rings with small walls intersecting them to form rooms.
The unique structure, which has a diameter of 157 feet (48 meters), was found while building workers were setting up a monitoring radar system for a new airport some 32 miles (51 kilometers) southeast of Heraklion, the capital of Crete.
In the middle of the Minoan civilization, between 2000 and 1700 B.C., archaeologists tentatively dated the building based on the style of pottery fragments found during the excavation.
The Minoans established one of the earliest sophisticated European societies on the island of Crete between around 3000 and 1100 B.C. They left intricate figures, jewelry, paintings, and ceramics behind, but their primary written language has never been completely decoded.
Furthermore, the Minoans were largely forgotten as their society fell apart until Sir Arthur Evans' archeological work in the early 20th century named the term "Minoan" after the fabled King Minos.
The most famous example of Minoan architecture is the old palace Knossos, which has a central open area flanked by wings of several smaller apartments connected by hallways. Although they were commonly known as "palaces," these large Minoan buildings served more as hubs for local administrative activities than royal residences.
According to the Ministry of Culture, the recently discovered building near Kastelli was unlikely to be used as a house. Instead, the discovery of several animal bones, among other artifacts, points to the building's recurrent use for ritual feasts attended by the entire community, including food, wine, and other offerings.
