Zakros
Zakros is a Minoan archaeological site on Crete’s eastern coast in Lasithi. It’s one of the six Minoan palaces and sat beside a protected harbor, making it an important trading hub in the east.
The main settlement centered on the Palace of Zakro. The palace was first built around 1900 BC, rebuilt around 1600 BC, and destroyed around 1450 BC along with other major Minoan centers. Today, extensive ruins remain and attract visitors. The site is divided into Epano Zakros (upper Zakros) and Kato Zakros (lower Zakros). A Minoan villa near Epano Zakro dates to LM IA (about 1700–1625 BC). A pithos with Linear A writing around its rim records a large quantity of wine.
A gorge known as the Ravine of the Dead runs through the site, where many burials have been found. The area was first occupied around 2000 BC. The Old Palace was built in the Middle Minoan period and destroyed by an earthquake around 1700 BC. The New Palace followed and was destroyed around 1450 BC. After that, activity declined and the site was largely abandoned by about 1200 BC.
An ancient three-meter-wide paved road connected Kato Zakros harbor to the palace gates, suggesting transport by pack animals. Sea level changes over time affected the harbor, and the northern hills housed a sizable town with a straight-road layout.
The ancient name of the site may have been Dikta. In 2025 Zakros was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Minoan Palatial Centres for its cultural importance.
Modern history: the site was first noted in 1851. Excavations began in 1901 with D. G. Hogarth, and later from 1961 to 1992 under Nikolaos Platon, with work continued by Lefteris Plato. Finds include bronze tools, pottery, loom weights, and a wine press. The site yielded many Linear A inscriptions and clay sealings, the second-largest collection after Haghia Triada, along with two Egyptian bowls. Most artifacts are now in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, with some at the Ashmolean Museum.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 09:25 (CET).