GREECE CRETE LASITHI CHAMAIZI

Chamaizi lies on the northern route linking Sitia (above left a view from ancient Chamaizi to the bay of Sitia) with the area of Agios Nikolaos in eastern Crete. Near modern Chamaizi, about 11 km west of Sitia, smaller dirt tracks lead to a conical hill called Souvloto Mouri (Greek for pointed-faced), with some of the most remarkable remains of the Middle Minoan Ia period (ca. 2100-2000 BC). - The site is not very easy to find, but very well worth the effort.

The original excavation by S. Xanthoudides in 1903 revealed the very solid remains of a building with elliptical shape - so far unique for this period - interpreted as a large Minoan "villa". In 1907, D. Mackenzie showed that the shape of the building was dictated by the oval shape of the hill-top, a view then generally accepted. Later, Nikolaos Platon, on the basis of the finds of several figurines in the building, suggested that it belonged to a Minoan peak sanctuary, the well in the courtyard being a sacred pit or deposit. On the other hand, the fortress-like appearance of the building and its position, overlooking the bay of Sitia, could also point to a strategic significance of the building, along with the fortified building at Kouphata / Agia Fotia.

A new research by Costis Davaras in 1971 finally brought to light new evidence contributing to the present view: The site shows two architectural phases with the earlier buildings of farmers dating to the Early Minoan period (ca. 2800-2300 BC). These foundations (red on the plan below left) are sometimes curvilinear. The later structures of the distinctly oval house belong to the Middle Minoan period (ca. 2200-1550 BC) and concentrate around a courtyard with a well or cistern. It had two entrances - one in the south-east (number 7 on the plan), another one in the north-west - and a domestic shrine in one of the largest rooms (nr. 4), where a movable hearth was found.

Above right: Circular well or cistern in one corner of the courtyard. - Below left: Looking over the cistern to the Northwest. - Below right: The southern part of the building.