Quartier E (1800-1200 BC)

 archaeological site, prehistoric, Minoan, fenced area

The area was first inhabited in the Neopalatial period Tand seems to have been abandoned because of the insecurity prevailing in the Late Minoan period. House E and House Ea, adjacent buildings separated by a paved road, are typical examples.
House E, the larger of the two (50x28 m.), can be compared architecturaily with the “Little Palace” of Knossos. The main entrance is located at the northeastern corner of the building. Living areas, storerooms and other areas whose function has yet to be identified are laid out around a small court. A number of storerooms have been identified in the northwestern part of the House, one of which contained two large pithoi (storage jars). The double axes moulds and the stone, pyramid-shaped double-axe stand found in a room farther west indicate that it served as a metalworker’s workshop. A room of special interest in the western part of House E features a central rectangular construction of four stones set into the ground. The construction contained ashes, parts of vases decorated with double-axe motifs, and parts of ritual vessels, indicating possible cult use.
A room with a central atrium, an architectural feature unique in Malia and quite rare in Minoan buildings in general, was discovered farther to the south. The only examples of decorated frescoes that have been found in Malia were unearthed to the east of the atrium, in an oblong room connected with a lustral basin. The frescoes feature painted bands and stylized floral motifs in red, blue and pale yellow.
Numerous clay and stone vessels, stone lamps and offering tables, bronze daggers and tools, parts of figurines and seal stones were unearthed during the excavations.