April 2, 2012 By
Project Overview
This Greek-American collaborative project funds research on the Stone Age discoveries around the village of Plakias in southwest Crete (Greece). It began in 2008 with the Plakias Mesolithic Survey where both Mesolithic (11,000– 9000 B.P.) and Lower Palaeolithic sites (1.5 million years–250,000 years ago) were found. These artifacts not only represent the earliest tools ever [...]
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Fact Sheet
Plakias Region – View from the East Research The survey found more than 2,100 stone artifacts found include hand axes made of quartz and identified with the Palaeolithic period—dating back at least 130,000 years. Mesolithic tools (11,000-8000 B.P.), such as microliths, were also found. Stone tools found on Crete suggest pre-Homo sapiens traveled to islands in [...]
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Survey
The summer of 2008 was focused on discovering Mesolithic artifacts by conducting surface reconnaissance in areas that hunter-gatherers were likely to favor; such as places that are well-watered and have south-facing caves to take advantage of the sun’s warmth. We chose the southwestern coast of Crete near the towns of Plakias and Ayios Pavlos, which [...]
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Excavation
In 2011, an excavation of one of the Mesolithic sites (Damnoni) began with great success. At the site was found stratified Mesolithic remains, and this is the earliest excavated in situ cultural deposit on Crete. Stone tools of quartz and chert were found. The excavation will continue in 2013 and a detailed publication of our [...]
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