Archanes, known in bibliography already since 1909, had attracted the interest of all the great scientists of Cretan archaeology, such as S. Xanthoudides, A. Evans, S. Marinatos and N. Platon. However, only since 1964, with the inclusion of its excavation in the program of the Archaeological Society, the systematic research of Archanes has started. Archanes is today one of the best studied archaeological sites of Crete -with the exception of the neighboring Knossos- due to the excavational research of the Minoan cemetery at Fourni, the palatial building at Tourkoyitonia, the temple of human sacrifice at Anemospilia and of other areas, as well as due to our various published papers and articles on Archanes that sum up to the number of 68. Besides a short intermission in the excavational procedure, although unusual, the research has been continued by publications. Efi Sakellaraki and I consider ourselves lucky for a series of reasons: we have staffed our scientific team with nine excellent young research assistants, selected among our graduate students, who have finished or are working on their doctoral thesis at various universities in Greece and abroad. Our collaboration with the local inhabitants has been most fruitful as the creation of a small museum, which opened last year, proves; this fact shows that our research effort has been successfully incorporated in the social network of the small present town of Archanes. And finally, the prize awarded to us by the Academy of Athens in 1983 as well as our nomination as honorary citizens of Archanes in 1992 represent undoubtedly a full recognition of and repay for our long, hard efforts both by the official state and the local community.
Archanes, Thirty Years of Research
14 Aug 2012
by Archaeology Newsroom
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