Böcker i BSA Supplementary Volume-serien

This is the account of an excavation by the British School at Athens at the major Mycenaean settlement in the central Eurotas valley of Laconia, close to the site of ancient and modern Sparta, in the south-central Peloponnese. The site was first identified and partly explored by the British School (under its sixth Director, R. M.

Block M is a substantial architectural complex comprising three large buildings at the heart of the Minoan town of Palaikastro. With traces of activity stretching back to the Prepalatial period, and occupation in the Protopalatial period, Block M sees its most intensive use in the Neopalatial period, in the 17th century BC.

In 1999 a collection of documents were found in the archives of the Italian Institute of Human Palaeontology belonging to Luigi Cardini, one of the founders of the Institute.

The crucial earliest phases of palatial Knossos are not well known, in part due to over-building by neopalatial structures and floors. This volume represents the first complete publication of substantial deposits dating to this period, specifically the Middle Minoan IB and IIA phases.

Masons' marks were signs carved on stone blocks in Minoan Crete during the second millennium BC, chiefly in palatial centres. This two-volume study catalogues some 1600 masons' marks in the Palace of Knossos and surrounding buildings, presents a typology and chronology of the signs, and provides a detailed discussion of their purpose.

This volume presents the results of the British School at Athens excavations into the complex stratigraphy in and around Building 1 from 1986 to 1989 that revealed a monument, unique at Palaikastro, perhaps ritual in function, and whose occupation history takes us from the Minoan Renaissance following the Thera eruption to the twilight of the Bronz

Publishes the data from excavation and survey work at Karphi and its surrounding area.

Plan in pocket attached to inside back cover.