On Fourni hill, between Ano and Kato Archanes and near the Minoan settlement of Archanes, in a forest of olives and vines, a rich cemetery was discovered, which is one of the most important archaeological sites of Crete. The Fourni hill limits the small plain of Archana to the north-west, but it is not a part of the Juhta, as they are separated by a deep ravine. The western part of the hill is steep, while its top is barren. The long period of use of the tombs (2400-1200 BC) and the number of offerings make Fourni one of the most important cemeteries in the Aegean area. The oldest burials begin in the 3rd millennium BC, while some tombs were used for a very long period of time (2000 BC-1350 BC). Of the buildings that have been uncovered so far, most of them are funeral, while some of them have a cult and secular character.
The necropolis of Fourni is characterized by the number and variety of burial buildings of many architectural types, which are located within a single space, by the hundreds of burials, among them some of prominent royal persons, and by the richness of the offerings. In addition, it offers important information and evidence on Minoan burial customs and funerary cult.
Source: MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND SPORTS
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