History

A particular Minoan farmhouse of elliptical shape has been found at position Souvloto Mouri, near Chamezi village. The farmhouse was excavated in 1902 by Xanthoudidis and its shape has been studied by archaeologists.

On the rocky hill Papouri, located northeast of the beach of Tripiti, high above the tavern, we meet the remains of a Minoan settlement. The first excavations were made in 1986-88 by archeologist Antonis Vasilakis. A vaulted tomb of 2800-2000BC was also been found 200m on the south.

During the dark period of the post Minoan times in Crete many settlements were built on remote mountainous areas, mainly in eastern Crete (Historians call it dark period because they still don’t know the exact reason for this movement). The settlements were built on hard to access, naturally fortified places so as to protect their inhabitants from enemy attacks.

High above the village Frati in South Rethymnon and north of the settlement we meet the Fratiani Kefala hill. This is a very steep hill with cliffs at most of its sides, which has very good views to the surrounding area and was used as a shelter in tough historical times. Kefala was chosen as a place for settling the Minoans during the dark era that followed the Minoan disaster, i.e. between 1200-800BC.

The prepalatial cemetery Koumasa is located between Loukia and Koumasa. This Minoan archaeological site was first excavated by Stephanos Xanthoudides from 1904-1906 and four graves came to light (three vaulted graves and one rectangular).

Ancient Arcadia or Arcades was a town that is believed to have been built near the village Afrati. Archaeological excavations in 1924 unearthed an ancient houses and necropolis of the 7th-9th centuries BC with vaulted tombs.

At position Platyskinos near Achladia, Sitia, a large underground vaulted tomb of diameter 4.08m, height 4.16m and corridor 9m, has been revealed. The tomb, extremely rare especially in Eastern Crete, dates back from 1400-1220 BC and is thought to have been inspired by the tombs of Mycenae.

Just next to the small village of Fylaki at Apokoronas province, Chania, you will find the vaulted tomb of Fylaki. It was built in the post Minoan Times. It is very well preserved and clean. There is a long aisle at its entrance and its pyramid-like roof is very impressive.