Ancient Greek Palace Unearthed In Sparta Filling Gaps In Mycenaean Narrative
An ancient palace unearthed in southern Greece is helping archeologists and historians fill gaps in the narrative of bronze-age Greece.
According to The Guardian, the palace was likely built around 17th century BC in Sparta. It may have been destroyed by a fire few hundred years after it was build. Archeologists found clay tablets with one of the earliest Greek scripts along with figurines, swords, murals and a cup adorned with a bull's head.
The discovery was made in 2009 and is being hailed as it helps understand Mycenaean civilization which mysteriously disappeared from Greece. Inscriptions found on clay tablets suggest that the civilization had a sophisticated culture with intricate bureaucracy. The tablets revealed names, financial dealings and religious offerings.
Live Science reported that the palace is the first to be found in the Spartan plain.
"Tradition tells us that Sparta was an important site in the Mycenaean period. What's exciting is you do have this middle Bronze Age stuff that suggests it's a site of great significance," archeologist Hal Haskell reportedly told Live Science.
Historians are divided about what happened to Mycenaean civilization with some holding the view that a 300-year drought caused its downfall while others maintaining that earthquake destroyed it.
