Palaikastro Excavation 1902-1906: Season 1905
Excavation: Research excavation
The main object of the fourth season of work in the Palaikastro region by the British School at Athens was to determine the location of the Temple of Dictaean Zeus at the main site of Roussolakkos. Further work continued in various blocks of Roussolakkos, but block X, located northeast of the main road from Block Π, proved to be the site of the temple. The area had been partly explored and cleared in 1902 and 1904 (when the inscription with the Hymn to the Infant Zeus was discovered), but was completely excavated in 1905. Finds from the temple included terracotta architectural fragments, vases, lamps, bronze sheilds, bronze figurines representing periods from Archaic to Hellenistic. An earlier structure of Minoan date lay beneath rich in 'Palace style' vases, a hoard of stone vases and ivory plaques, but there was no definitive indication that this was also a sacrad space. No regular Neolithic deposit had been found in the area until a chance find by a local led R.M. Dawkins to a site of Magasa, located far to the southwest of the Palaikastro region. Dawkins excavated a rock shelter and surround area which yeilded evidence of a Neolithic settlement, finding a structure, pottery, stone tools, obsidian blades, bone implements, shells and animal bones. Trial pits at the base of Kastri at τα Ελληνικά revealed another Early Minoan ossuary. Further investigations at the burial site of Salandri revealed more larnak burials which were studied by C.H. Hawes.
Active in 1905.
Dawkins, Mr Richard McGillivray
Dickins, Mr Guy
1905. Annual Meeting of Subscribers. BSA 11: 309-319. Direct link
Dawkins, Richard M., et al. 1905. Excavations at Palaikastro. IV. BSA 11: 258-308. Direct link