Knossos Palace Storage, Heraklion

Minoan pottery, a pivotal tool in dating the silent Minoan civilization, showcases a distinctive sequence of artistic styles, reflecting the Minoans' penchant for novelty while aiding archaeologists in establishing relative chronologies at various sites.

Dating back to the 18th century BC, Minoan pottery has been discovered at sites across the Aegean islands, mainland Greece, Cyprus, coastal Syria, and Egypt, underscoring the extensive trading networks of the Minoans. The pottery encompasses a diverse range of vessels, collectively known as "vases," and includes "terracottas," small ceramic figurines, and models of buildings. The Late Minoan period saw the pinnacle of artistic achievement in Minoan pottery, with notable examples such as the palace pottery called Kamares ware, and the "Marine Style" and "Floral Style" characterized by intricate patterns.

Knossos Palace boasted extensive storage magazines that served dual purposes, housing agricultural commodities and high-quality tableware. The palace stored enormous sets of elaborately decorated tableware, often produced elsewhere in Crete. The prolific, heavily-decorated pottery found at Knossos is uniquely styled, allowing archaeologists to establish a standard relative chronology based on pottery styles. This chronology, in turn, is crucial for assigning dates to different layers of the palace, offering a valuable tool for understanding the timeline of Minoan civilization.