Gortyn, Profitis Ilias. Recent excavations in the geometric and archaic settlement

The settlement on Profitis Ilias and Armi Hills, located 500 m east of Gortyn acropolis, probably developed at the end of the Bronze age and was abandoned at the secondhalf of 7th century BC. Is constitutes a very important point of observation to reconstruct the complex dinamics of Gortyn's region, between the end of the Minoan culture and the Birth of the polis. The excavations, on yhe high Southern slopes of Profitis Ilias hill, involved a partof the built-up area dated to 8th - 7th century BC, set on terraces and crossed by an East-West Street. On the higher terrace, five houses have beenidentified, divided by narrow lanes from North to South and different in size and space setting. Three of them show a large courtyard along the Street. the remains of two houses of lower terrace are greatly damaged.