The earliest evidence of the site’s use goes back to the Early Minoan II period (2600-2300 B.C.) with a layer of stones on the natural bedrock and the uncovering of two cups of “Vasiliki” ware (fig. 3). This was followed by a continuous sequence of periods up to the Late Minoan III C period (1200 – 1100 B.C.).
During the excavation, parts of two walls and two hearths were detected at different
depths. The presence of ash, indicating a strong fire, as well as the limpets, the pounders and grinders that were found, suggest in all likelihood that an exterior space was excavated. It was perhaps meant for workshop use or for food preparation. This last suggestion is reinforced by the discovery of a hearth during the excavation of Daskaloyanni Street in 1997 outside the church.
In layer 4, in the northwest part, a pit was detected, which was the continuation of a pit of the 4th century B.C., which had been found in 1997 on the west side of Haghios Rokkos, during the excavation in Daskaloyanni Street. The existence of this big pit called for a deep and strong foundation in this part, when the church was built during the Venetian occupation. In the upper layers, the presence of pits was clear, which are explained by the attempt to prepare the ground before the church was being built and the initial floor of clay tiles was being laid. Today the whole excavation area can be seen under glass flouring.
