The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-08-02
MINOS' PALACE FAR
LARGER THAN DREAMED

A report by Arthur j. Evans of his ex-
plorations this year In the great palace
at Knossus In Crete tells OF the discovery
OF as rich a mass of archaeological and
architectural objects as previous years
afforded. The most startling announce
ment, however. is that the extent of the
palace is much greater than any one
imagined. On this paint Mr. Evans says
nthe London Times.
But the great surprises of the supple
mentary excavations awaited US on the
south and southwest. On these sides the
whole palace plan Is nothing less than
revolutionized. The line OF gypsum wall
formerly regarded as the outer wall of the
building on the south proves to be not
tbbban outer wall at all but the innter
boundary of a spacious corridor that lay
Immediately within this face of the build
ing. The real front wall on this side.
forming the exterior boundary of the cor
ridor. could be traced for a considerable
distance west by means of its foundations
and the blocks that had backed these.
Toward the southern entrance the line
Of gypsum slabs that formed the central
paving OF the corridor had been preserved,
showing a great resemblance to that
which runs down the middle of the 'Cor-
ridor of the Procession" leading from the
west court.
A careful investigation further brought
out the whole plan of the contiguous
southern entrance, including. as in the
case OF the west portico. a small porter's
lodge. Outside this southern gate was
visible part OF the pavement OF an old
roadway leading UP the steep from the
southwest. 1t seemed possible. therefore,
that the point might be made out where
this ancient roadline crossed the rayine
of the small stream that runs below the
palace hill on this side. Some masonry
existing at likely spot near the stream
turned out on investigate nto be Roman
But a trench dug somewhat above this
actually revealed an ancient paved way
running toward the same point but sud-
denly breaking off at what appeared to
be the remains Of a tete de pont that
had been constructed at a time when the
stream ran at higher level and some
what north OF its present channel.
The roadway thus struck ran In more
northerly direction than I had anticipated,
suggesting that Is principal connection
was rather with the western court than
the southern entrance. Further trenches
were therefore dug in the same line higher
up the steep. with the astonishing result
that a fresh series of palace construction
came to light where. according to all our
foregone conclusions, no palace should
have been. Exactly on the line followed.
moreover there opened a narrow passage.
apparently leading from some postern
gate on the southwest, fanked on either
~, rising in steps and somewhat recalling
those of the northern entrance. This pas
sage mist have opened on the west court
near Its southwestern angle. The lines
all answer to the palace orientation. and
there can be no remaining doubt that
southwestern quarter of the great build
Ing existed OF which no account has
hitherto be taken.
For the present 1t has been necessary
to bring the whole OF the operations to a
standstlll and indeed they had already
extended far beyond the limits that had
set out for myself Their net result is to
show that an additional area OF some 1000
square yards must be added to the great
palace TO open up n series OF unsolved
problems OF absorbing interest-among
which not the least concerns the great
primeval tomb-and In involve the or
ganization OF another great campaign be-
fore anything like fnality can be attained
Some important development may also be
expected on the north side. where supple
mentary excavation on a considerable
scale Is also necessary.