Listed 3 sub titles with search on: Archaeological sites for destination: "KARPHI Prehistoric settlement OROPEDIO LASSITHIOU".
Region: Crete
Periods: Middle Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age, Dark Age, Geometric
Type: Settlement
Summary: An Early Iron Age Cretan refuge settlement with a temple
and associated tombs.
Physical Description:
Located on the remote upper SE slope of a high peak at
the N edge of the Lasithi plain, Karphi was a refuge settlement of ca. 150 rectangular
adjoining rooms representing an unknown number of individual residences. The settlement
was unwalled, but in a naturally defensible position with a stepped entrance at
its steep N edge. At the center of the settlement a "Great House" has been identified
by its superior construction and the number of finds of bronze artifacts. At the
N edge of the settlement, along the cliff edge, is a shrine or temple identified
on the basis of an interior altar and ledge for cult objects and finds of terracotta
figurines. The figurines follow the earlier Minoan tradition of females in bell-skirts,
up-raised arms, and crowns surmounted by birds and disks. Many stretches of the
twisting passages through the settlement were paved in stone. Remains of the settlement
extend E across the ridge top saddle that joins the Karphi peak to the summit
of Mikre Koprana. Associated tholos tombs are located outside the settlement to
the S.
Description:
A Middle Bronze Age Minoan peak sanctuary was located on the
summit of Karphi, but the settlement on the SE slopes was founded at the end of
the Late Bronze Age. After two centuries of occupation the settlement was abandoned
peacefully at ca. 900 B.C.
Exploration:
Excavations in 1937-1939 by Pendlebury and the British School
in Athens.
Donald R. Keller, ed.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 1 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Karfi, meaning "big nail" in Greek, is the mountain with the last of the Minoan settlements. The peak of Karfi was originally a sanctuary like Maza. When the Dorians migrated to Crete, true Minoans (Eteocretans) retreated to this mountain and in retreat built a settlement on its slopes. J. D. S. Pendlebury and the British Archaeology School extensively excavated the ruins in the 1930s. From their high villages the Minoans had a view of the Cretan Sea, the valley of Pediada, and the plateau of Lassithi. Although it is difficult to make out the buildings and streets of the site you will have a magnificent view of Iraklion, the Lassithi Plateau, and the Dikte Mountains. The concrete post at the top marks the site. The settlement stretched between the two peaks and over the northeast slope of Karfi. The Minoan civilization survived intact here for about 400 years after the occupation of Knossos. Several clay religious figurines have been found there including the cylindrical skirted goddesses with their hands raised in a prayer position that are now displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Iraklion (Room 11).
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
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