Roussolakos Minoan Town

Rousolakos is located 91km southeast of Agios Nikolaos, right next to the beach of Hiona. Here, the archaeologists have discovered an important town of Minoan Crete covering an area of more than 50 acres, which flourished particularly at the end of the Minoan Age till 1450BC.

The city was excavated by the British School of Archaeology in the early 20th century, while the work are carried out till today. The findings from Palekastro are exhibited at the Museum of Sitia.

Bones have been found in graves, which helped anthropologists study the physique of the Minoans. The men had an average height of 1.60m and women 1.50m.

The town is divided into 9 districts separated by a main road. Like all great Minoan towns, the visitors get impressed by the sewage system.

There are also large rooms, shrines, storage houses, olive and wine press, etc. A shrine dedicated to Diktaean Zeus (belonged to Itanos) is probably the most important building, which was probably destroyed in the 4th century by the early Christians.