Traostalos

 sanctuary, archaeological site

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Traostalos is one of the most important sanctuaries in a region bristling with them and with other types of sanctuary, such as rock-shelter shrines like that at Anthropolithoi near Zakros, and roadside shrines, such as Kynigakia near the “Skala tou Ayiou Antoniou.”
The position occupied by Traostalos made it a landmark visible from both from the sea and the land, and it was a reference point for at least two of the most important towns in east Crete, including the Palace, which were sited almost equidistantly from its summit.
The reasons for the long life of Traostalos may be sought in the proximity of the sanctuary to the major centres and its location in the middle of a rich, densely occupied hinterland. This may account for the long period of use of the sanctuary, which covers at least the Old Palace and New Palace periods.

The investigation of the site is under the auspices of the Archaeological Service. The first excavation took place during the years 1963-64, under Kostis Davaras, who opened two trenches at the west end of the plateau and explored the building on the summit. In 1978 the excavator returned to make measured drawings of this structure and resume his investigation of ‘the main area of deposits at the edge of the plateau’.
A rescue excavation in 1995 was the occasion of the start of a second investigation, by the present author, with a total duration of three months during the period April to October. It should be noted that the sanctuary has suffered repeatedly from digging by antiquities thieves. This undoubtedly continued during the interval between the two excavation periods, (1963-1995), and led to severe disturbance of the deposits at various points of the plateau on the summit.