Excavations at Laona 2013 

 The 2013 excavation season was initiated with a small team excavating at Laona, on the southeastern side of the artificial mound, Four trenches were investigated during this season LA2-LA10, LA10, LA13, LA14. Trenches LA13 and LA14 revealed the same overlapping layers of marl and red soil that characterize the construction of the Laona mound. No architectural remains or other features were discovered within these two trenches. A significant amount of pottery sherds was unearthed, including the handle fragment of a Late Minoan stirrup jar in 'oatmeal' fabric, bearing an inscribed Cypro-Minoan mark on the handle.

Our investigations in trenches LA2-LA10 and LA10 exposed part of the large retaining wall, delineating the mound of Laona to the southeast. The wall runs on a north/northwest south/southeast axis. During the 2013 expedition we uncovered a series of mudbricks abutting the west side of the wall, laid on the same orientation. The mudbricks were made of buff-coloured clay, with small pebbles and organic materials (straw). West of the mudbrick feature, we excavated the consecutive layers of marl and red soil, which are characteristic for the construction of the mound.

Following the work of 2009 and 2010, in 2013 we focused on Area 2 as well as farther to the east of Area 2, directly north of the palace compound.

In the area directly north of the palace (north of plot 140) we excavated two new trenches (HA 39 and HA 40). The excavation revealed walls running north to south as well as part of a
rectangular structure. The walls that run north to south seem to be a continuation of the east channel that has been excavated by the British Mission and defines the east border of the palace compound. The eastern wall of the channel reaches a width of 1.5 meters, whereas its western wall was partly destroyed. Only the topmost preserved course of this structure has been uncovered at this point and as a result we cannot speculate further for its function.

Moving farther to the west we opened two more new trenches (HA 35 and HA 36). The excavation revealed the continuation of the west channel of the palace compound. The channel seems to be built in the same way as the east channel with walls, about 1.5 meters wide, running north to south. In addition we exposed part of walls, with an east to west direction, at the northern and southern baulks of the trenches. It is important to note that the walls uncovered seem to be the same orientation as the walls of the palace compound, suggesting a common building plan.

In addition to the excavation of the various walls, this year we uncovered the remnants of what may be a small-scale industrial installation. To the east of the long cross wall excavated in HA 31-HA 32, we uncovered the bottom part of a pithos, leaning against a slab, with flat tile at its bottom. Nearby we also found large flat tiles, preliminarily dated to the Late Classical period.

A small-scale and short term excavation season was initiated at Laona on the 17th of October and was completed on the 2nd of November 2013 (Phase 2013-B). The focus of the small-scale excavation season was the investigation of the "monument" uncovered at Laona at a depth of ca. 4.5m. from the top of the mound. The monument was aligned facing the Sanctuary. Following a two-week excavation, we were able to confirm that the structure was filled by a uniform layer, consisting of a clayey soil and marl. The pottery uncovered inside the monument was very limited.

Both the northern and the southern walls of the wall had some of their stones removed, judging by the fact that the top surface on some of the stones is covered by the reddish clay, which indicates that originally stood another stone, now missing. It became evident that the northern wall continued towards the unexcavated area to the west. The small size of the monument and its location off-centre in relation to the axis of the tumulus, suggest that what we have identified as a "platform" is not the only monument lying underneath the mound.