A 3400-year-old Minoan tomb discovered in Crete (photo)

Archaeologists from Greece have discovered an intact chamber tomb from the late Minoan period, dating back to 1400-1200 BC. The tomb was discovered near the city of Ierapetra, eastern Crete. It contained the bodies of two unknown men who lived in the Minoan Bronze Age.

The tomb is particularly noteworthy because Minoan settlements are more common in the lowlands and plains of the country than in the mountainous region of Ierapetra. This indicates that the Minoans spread to the mountainous regions of Crete much earlier than previously thought, writes Greek Reporter.

"This discovery is important for our understanding of the Minoan civilization. It shows that the Minoans were more widespread than we thought and that they had an impact on different parts of Crete," said Argyris Pantazis, deputy mayor of Hierapetra.

The tomb was discovered by a farmer who was parking his car in his olive grove. When the ground beneath his wheels gave way, the farmer discovered a gaping void that contained an ancient burial site.

Inside the tomb, archaeologists found two skeletons sitting on their haunches. They were buried with a chalice and 14 high-quality ornamented Greek ritual jars or amphorae.

The tomb was closed behind a stone wall and has not been disturbed by robbery for thousands of years. This gives archaeologists a unique opportunity to study Minoan culture and society.

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