Chamezi Minoan house, Archaeological site on Souvloto Mouri hill near Sitia, Greece
The Chamezi house is an oval-shaped structure with multiple rooms arranged around a central courtyard that includes a water storage cistern. The layout follows the domestic design patterns typical of Minoan residential buildings.
Archaeologist Stephanos Xanthoudides excavated the site in 1903, revealing structures dating to around 2100 BC during the Middle Minoan period. The discovery provided insights into residential life during this early age of Aegean civilization.
The northeastern part of the house contained a domestic shrine, showing how religious practices were woven into the daily lives of those who lived here.
Visitors need to walk about one kilometer on an unpaved road from Chamezi village to reach the site. It is best to visit during daylight hours for adequate visibility of the remains.
This is the only known oval-shaped Minoan house, occupying a rare middle ground between the circular and rectangular building designs of its era. Its unusual form sets it apart from other residential structures from the same period.
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