Zakros

archaeological site, Greece

Also known as: Zakro

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July 15, 2026

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Zakros is an archaeological site in Crete, Greece, that was a major center of the Minoan civilization during the Bronze Age. Excavations at Zakros have uncovered a large palace complex, which served as a political, economic, and ceremonial hub. Among the findings are magnificent stone ritual vases and bronze tools, though few gold or silver objects were discovered. The palace at Zakros was destroyed by fire around 1450 BCE and subsequently abandoned, suggesting a significant disruption to the existing social order. This destruction is believed to have been caused by conquerors from the Greek mainland, marking a shift in power and the establishment of a new social order on Crete.12

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Aegean civilizations
History of exploration
…fire about 1450 bc at Zákros in eastern Crete, was discovered. In 1967 the Greek archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos followed up Fouqué’s explorations with excavations at modern Akrotíri on the south coast of Thera. He uncovered a whole town buried under the volcanic eruption and so preserved in wonderful detail.
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…fire about 1450 bc at Zákros in eastern Crete, was discovered. In 1967 the Greek archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos followed up Fouqué’s explorations with excavations at modern Akrotíri on the south coast of Thera. He uncovered a whole town buried under the volcanic eruption and so preserved in wonderful detail.
Read More