Archaeological Museum

The excellent Archaeological Museum houses a well-displayed and important collection of local finds spanning Neolithic to Roman times, with emphasis on the Minoan civilization. One of the most significant exhibits is the Palekastro Kouros - a figure pieced together from fragments made of hippopotamus tusks and adorned with gold (see the boxed text). Finds from the palace at Zakros include a wine press, a bronze saw, jars, cult objects and pots that are clearly scorched from the great fire that destroyed the palace. Among the most valuable objects are the Linear A tablets, which reflect the palace's administrative function.