Knossos Caravanserai South House
Knossos Caravanserai South House North Annex · Knossos Site
Neolithic to Iron Age (6000 BCE–500 CE)·Neolithic·🇬🇷 Crete, Knossos, Greece
About
About Knossos Caravanserai South House
Knossos Caravanserai South House in Crete, Knossos, Greece is a Neolithic to Iron Age (6000 BCE–500 CE) ancient village attributed to Neolithic. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal site extent 150 × 90 m and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 35.2970N 25.1630E controls access to Crete resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey ancient village for Crete, Knossos, illustrating Neolithic construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 4000 BCE–500 CE
- Period
- Neolithic to Iron Age (6000 BCE–500 CE)
- Culture
- Neolithic
- Purpose
- Ceremonial and residential complex
- Rediscovered
- 1964 survey
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c. 4000 BCE–500 CE
Initial construction of Knossos Caravanserai South House main structure
c. 1944
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically
2004–2019
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Knossos Caravanserai South House) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
35.2970° N · 25.1630° E · 388 m · 4 mapped features
- Knossos Caravanserai South House — Main StructurestructurePrincipal ancient village — Site extent 150 × 90 m with diagnostic masonry/panel35.2978° N · 25.1639° E
- Knossos Caravanserai South House — Ancillary ComplexcomplexAncillary settlement debris and ceramics surrounding main feature35.2960° N · 25.1623° E
- Knossos Caravanserai South House — Peripheral FeatureoutlierPeripheral feature with outlier deposit and burial35.2985° N · 25.1642° E
- Knossos Caravanserai South House — Hydraulic/CisternhydraulicHydraulic feature — cistern/reservoir or rock-cut channel associated with site35.2954° N · 25.1619° E
Gallery