Monument on Papoura Hill

The ongoing excavations at the summit of Papoura Hill, at an altitude of 494m northwest of Kastelli and the new runway under construction, have revealed a monumental circular architectural complex, unprecedented in Minoan archaeology. The structure has a diameter of approximately 48 metres, covering an area of about 1,800 square metres. It is located at the highest point of the hill, on land that had been expropriated for the installation of Surveillance Systems (radar) for the new airport.

This impressive structure consists of eight concentric stone-built rings — with an average thickness of 1.40m and an estimated maximum preserved height of 1.7m — developed on different elevation levels. At the centre, the rings form a circular building (Zone A) with a diameter of 15 metres and corbelled construction, the interior of which (9 metres in diameter) is divided into four quadrants.

Zone A is surrounded by a second main zone (Zone B, max width 6.9m), in which radial walls intersect the rings of the lower levels, creating smaller spaces. As the excavation progresses, a near labyrinthine layout is being uncovered, with the rooms interconnected through narrow openings. On the southwest and northwest sides, two possible main entrances to the central zones have been revealed.

Source: Ministry of Culture
Photo: Municipality of Minoa Pediada via Facebook