Minoan Settlement of Myrtos-Pyrgos

The Minoan Settlement of Myrtos-Pyrgos, also known as Pyrgos, is an archaeological site located near the village of Myrtos, in the municipality of Ierapetra on the south coast of Crete. This site provides valuable evidence of Minoan civilization along the Ierapetra Isthmus. Founded around 3000 BC, the settlement prospered due to its strategic location and geography. Overlooking the Libyan Sea and near the Myrtos valley, it had a harbor and protection from a nearby mountain range. The settlement features a courtyard, numerous rooms, a country house, and a tomb. It was destroyed by fire around 2150 BC and resettled around 1900 BC, later serving as an administrative center. Excavations, which began in 1970 by archaeologist Gerald Cadogan, revealed features like drains, paved floors, footpaths, and ashlar foundation blocks. The site is considered an example of a Minoan administrative center, with evidence of control over exchanges and produced items. Visitors can explore the remains of a Late Minoan farmhouse believed to have been three stories tall with nine rooms, including basements and storehouses. Archaeological research uncovered a monumental tomb containing pottery, knives, daggers, and triton shells. A bell-shaped jar depicting a goddess, one of the notable finds, is now displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos.