MINOAN-ERA SKELETON AND STUNNING NECKLACE UNEARTHED IN CRETE

 An intact skeleton of a woman lying next to a stunning meclace and other important artifacts from the early Minoan Era (circa 2.600 BC) were unearthed at the archaeological site of Sisi in Crete. 

Sisi. located at the prefectorate of Lasithi represents one of the most important Bronze Age excavations in Crete during the past decade, because of its extent chronological range, and the type of buildings uncovered.

The site sits on the coastal hill of Kephali at Agios Antonios locally known as Buffo.  Its stratigic position attracted the attention of early settlers and from its initial foundation around 2.600 BC and it remained occupied until the end of the Bronze Age around 1.200 BC.

Further excavations have revealed a decorated floor, constructed with a high-quality mortar and with a well-made 33 meter (109 feet) long clay drainage pipe, the ministry said. Singnificant finds from lesser-known eras have also been unearthed in other parts of the hill a residence destroyed in the Mid-Menoan era. 

During its early history, Sisi was one of the beautiful hamlets which dotted the coast of Malea Bay. but soon it would ourgrow its neihbours and become the second settlement after Malea in the region. 

"After the abandonment of the settlement by its people, who left almost of theit mateial culture in loco, a monmental structure was constructed to the east of the village." the Greek Minister of Cuture said.

"This building became the heart of the later West Wing. Even though it was destroyed by fire in 2.500 BC, it remains almost fully incorporated into the construction of monumental buildings with a courtyard. which was cinstructed around 1.700 BC," the statement noted.

Sisi like so many Minoan settlements and palace centers was destroyed by fire and the nature of occuoation drestically changed. 

Neopalatian houses were partly incorporated and overbuilt by a new type of structure that betrays influences of the Mycenean Mainland.

Late in the 13th century BC the site was suddenly abandoned. Fortunately, apart from the metal, all other objects were left in place, allowing a perfect reconstruction of its internal functioning. 

The Sisi archaological project started excavating the site in 2007 because of the University of Louvain under the aupices of the Belgian School in Athens.