Monastiraki, Crete, Archaeological site in Amari Valley, Greece
Monastiraki is an archaeological site in Crete with remains of a Minoan palatial complex scattered across a hilltop, featuring storage areas, administrative buildings, and residential spaces. The layout reveals how this regional hub operated during the Middle Minoan period.
The site was destroyed by fire around 1700 BC, sealing the Minoan structures and preserving them for future discovery. Modern research began in the 1980s when the University of Crete took over systematic excavations.
The discovery of clay sealings and archive rooms indicates this location served as a regional administrative center during the Middle Minoan period.
The site is accessible year-round, though some areas may be harder to reach depending on weather conditions. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and allow time to explore the spread-out areas on the hillside.
Visitors find scattered fragments of clay tablets marked with geometric impressions, offering insight into how ancient scribes recorded and filed administrative documents. These pieces reveal the daily workings of an early Minoan bureaucracy.
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