THE MINOAN FALLACY: CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND MORTUARY BEHAVIOUR ON CRETE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BRONZE AGE
Summary 
 
We are becoming increasingly aware of regional data patterning in the archaeological record of Prepalatial Crete, yet a theoretically informed and methodologically systematic study assessing the significance of such differences is still lacking. This article investigates variation through the rich mortuary record of the period and explores the significance of such diversity for our understanding of Prepalatial Crete. A detailed analysis using mortuary data reveals a complex spatial and temporal variation in the record which raises questions about social, political and ideological differences between communities on the island during the early periods of the Early Bronze Age. Prepalatial Crete emerges from this analysis as a complex context resulting from an intricate combination of local and regional histories and trajectories and far from the unified culture that the term ‘Minoan’ implies.
Early Minoan mortuary practices as evident by microarchaeological studies at Koumasa, Crete, applying new sampling procedures
Abstract Here we present the results of a micromorphological study conducted on the recently excavated layers in a tholos tomb - Tholos Beta - at the Minoan site at Koumasa, Crete, during the 2013–2014 excavation seasons. This was also a unique opportunity to conduct a detailed research on in situ unexcavated archaeological layers in a Minoan tholos tomb, applying new and innovative sampling methods in order to enable such research in remote locations. This is the first time a micromorphological study has ever been conducted at a Minoan tholos tomb. The micromorphological analysis of the archaeological layers demonstrates that a single and massive burning event of hundreds of disturbed burials took place throughout the structure. This was followed by sprinkling of burnt lime on top of the burnt bone layer. Later cycles of similar burning events are also implied. These results have significant implications on our understanding of Early Minoan mortuary practices and symbolic world.
L'épée à l'acrobate et la chronologie maliote ( II )
En 1936, F. Chapouthier decouvrait sous le sol de la piece III 2 du palais de Malia deux epees de bronze ; le pommeau d'os de l'une etait decore d'une rondelle d'or portant un acrobate au repousse. Ces trouvailles etaient rapportees par lui au premier palais, datation contestee depuis par plusieurs savants. Une fouille complementaire en 1946 amenait la decouverte sous le dallage de la piece voisine III 1 d'un groupe de petits vases de Chamaizi. En 1981 un nouveau nettoyage du niveau anterieur a ete realise apres depose du dallage de III 1. Une installation caracteristique avec plates-formes stuquees, rigoles et vases collecteurs, qui n'etait connue jusqu'ici que par des photographies, a ete remise au jour, soigneusement relevee et etudiee. La chronologie proposee par Chapouthier a ete confirmee : la salle stuquee et donc l'epee a l'acrobate trouvee sur son sol sont a dater de l'epoque protopalatiale.