A striking ring-shaped stone monument that dates back 4,000 years has been found atop a hill on the Greek island of Crete.
The 1,800-square-meter (19,375-square-foot) Bronze Age building was discovered during excavations for a large airport project at the summit of Papoura Hill, northwest of the village of Kastelli.
Archaeologists are currently looking at the site because they believe it may have served a religious or ritualistic purpose.
The eight concentric rings of stone that make up the labyrinthine structure are an average thickness of 1.4 meters (4.6 feet), with some remaining at heights of up to 1.7 meters.
![Archaeologists discovers ring-shaped monument](https://cdn.emiratitimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/17141615/Archaeologists-discovers-ring-shaped-monument.jpg)
The Minoan culture of Crete, which is well-known for its peak sanctuaries—hill- and mountain-top locations said to have been utilized in ancient rituals—was the source of the newly discovered structure’s architects.
Beautiful specimens of Minoan art, such as sacred structures, clay figures of humans and animals, and occasionally severed body parts known as “votive limbs” that were donated in prayer or as gratitude for healing, may be found at these places. Aside from its hilltop location, the circular structure on Papoura Hill is unlike any other Minoan construction discovered to date, thus it’s unclear if it would qualify as a peak sanctuary.
Given the abundance of animal bones discovered within, the Greek Culture Ministry says in an announcement that “it may have been used for possibly ritual ceremonies involving consumption of food, wine, and perhaps offerings.”
The Middle Minoan period encompasses 2000–1700 BCE, which is the primary period of use for the construction. Populations on the island rose dramatically during this period, especially in Knossos, Phaistos, and Malia.
![Minoan palaces on Crete](https://cdn.emiratitimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/17142043/Minoan-palaces-on-Crete.jpg)
In response to the demands of the expanding society, the famous Minoan palaces on Crete were built during this time.
The locations where the palaces were constructed had long been utilized for group rituals dating back thousands of years. The most popular explanation for the destruction of several constructions between 1750 and 1700 BCE is earthquakes.
Many of the mountain sanctuaries that were common in Minoan civilization were abandoned when Mycenaeans from the Greek mainland began to rule the island after 1450 BCE.
Based on ceramic remnants from the Neopalatial era (c. 1750–1470 BCE), archaeologists speculate that the site would have been inhabited long into the Middle Minoan period.
Planning for construction in Greece is a challenging task, as plans are frequently derailed by the discovery of yet another ancient historical site. According to the Greek Culture Ministry, the Kastelli airport project alone has already led to the discovery of at least 35 recently discovered archeological sites.
The ministry was eager to reassure the public that, at least for the time being, the structure will be protected from contemporary construction.