New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-17
THE CRETAN EXCAN ATOMS
REMAINS OF 4 CIVILIZATION UNCOV-
Erred THAT WAS OLD WHEN
HOMER SANG.

''on February Il last says Arthur j Evans in
THE London Times" writing from Gambia, L
was able thanks 10 the generous assistance given
through the Cretan Excavation Fund 10 resume the
work Of excavation in the prehistoric Palace OF
Knossos"
Those who have followed the former course OF
the excavations may remember that their result
had been to uncover an eastern wing which seems
to have been mainly reserved for state and re
ligious functions. business and storage. great
central court, and beyond it TO the east a part of
what seemed be the royal residential quarter
At the close of last seasons work staircase had
come 10 light here leading down by triple night
a hall with double tiers of Colonnades ana oe-
yond il larger columnar hall or Megaron ON
the upper level north of these ran a corridor be-
meath which another corresponding passage OF
lofty dimensions has now been cleared out orig
inally lit by n large window opening on the hSh'
well of the larger hall. The clearance of this was
marked by the discovery of extensive deposit
of inscribed clay tabetS-the largest. indeed. Yet
discovered-including about one hundred perfect
documents dealing with palace accounts Inc deCl-
NAL system is here much in evidence. and large
proportion of the tablets deal with percentages
With these were several large clay impressions Of
what must certainly have been royal signet ring
exhibiting goddess and her attendants. Of which
q counterfeit matriX found last year IN another
part of the building-a proof that fraudulent pro-
cedure unknown even in the household OF
Miuos
"A very interesting feature OF the newly discov-
cred hall which will be specially appreciated by
Homeric students is private staircase opening to
its north wall and leading up by double flight
TO upper rooms. On the side of the hall opens
passage leading TO what must have been the
most secluded part OF this residential quarter OF
the palace. Here again remains Of the upper floor
levels well preserved and a stone bench Is sii!
in its place against the wall of of the upper
rooms The innermost Of this group of chambers
have yet been incompletey excavated but the
work here has already been productive of some
atr,G of
what appears TO have been a wooden staircase, the
upper part of which found literally choked with
broken seal impressions, from what must certainly
have been q secretary's Office the upper floor
One of these impressions, though only a fragment
is Of great interest bearing part of the impress
OF late Babylonian cylinder, thus supplying d.
rect proof of correspondence with the East
very remarkable feature Of this quarter OF the
palace is the elaborate drainage system. The well
paved floors underlad by quite network OF
stone channels IN places crossing each other DIFF
ferent levels. and rooIny enough TO allow man to
leads down to these from the upper story, in one
c9,rias and in so fesnec var modern ex
ample also occurs on the ground floor. In another
pipe have been found OF most advanced FORM pro-
''On slope of hill the limits OF the
palace have extended themselves beyond all an
taken place. but among the finds are remains OF
Of Teined marble. and store Jars more capaclous
than any yet brought to light. A stone spout jut3
by q conduit with oil press above explained at
once their contents and means of filling Further
the palace massive lines of supporting walls
tervas of only foot so, and a bastion with
ascending flights OF steps ianhed by curious water
The remains already brought to light cover
area Of about five acres and their exploration may
be said 10 have opened to the eyes OF history a
new world already ancient when Homer sang, but
presenting civilization in some respects strangely
modern. 1t would seem, indeed as II the brilliant
TO maintain itself to the last The exploration. now
proceeding Of the basement s5acf t |i5hf b tm@
the level Of the later palace walls belonging 10
still earlier royal dwelling. Within these were fine
signs and elegant contour of which sJficiHnily at
test the high artistic DEVELOPMENT attained here
in this still more archaic period. In this early
stratum also found miniature vase OF gold
and porcelain the thmbleike receptacle or whch
may have contained some perfume as precious as
Here too as II to illustrate continuity Of the
shrine painted Gotta with doves perched on
its roof. But one of the later palace easements at
a slightly higher level than this, contained an ar
chtectural record Of still more universal interest
This is the remains Of mosaic, consisting Of small
10 have represented scenes disposed in various
zones recalling the subjects of Achilles shield,
other trees warriors with bows. spears and throw
ing sticks besiegers and defenders. and various
the houses OF which the city is composed. Frag-
mentary as are their remains. it has been possible
The varying character OF the structure-stone tim
Der and plastered rubbe-s accurately repToduced::
end the walls towers and gateWays-a whole street
Of a Mnoan city rises before us much as II
originally stood. But what Is even more SURPRISING
torc structures should be thus recovered for us in
tact from the CUFFS Of time is the altogether mod
three STORED houses (some Of the semi etached
class showing two contiguous doorways) with WIN
Ines each which seem show that the inmates
Of the houses had actually some SUBSTITUTE Ior