Am back. It was fantastic!
I think the neolithic gets overlooked a little bit in the (very good) archaelogical museums of Crete, which is understandable given the wealth of Minoan and Classical Greek stuff on offer (and that's before we get onto the Romans), but it's all great.
Most of the pre Minoan stuff seems to have been found in caves (offerings, tools, etc) - we were staying very near the Gerani cave, which has yeilded some pretty important finds, but it's closed to the public at the moment. I just got the feeling, from the number of caves in the various gorges and river valleys, that there's a lot more to find from this period.
It was great seeing some of the Minoan artefacts - stuff that was being produced while we were working on the Avebury complex.
Mountain top ritual sanctuaries seem to have been important to the Minoans, and some of these sites now have Churches on them - an interesting parallel with sites in the UK. Try and climb up to one if you visit.
Can recommend Armeni tombs (Minoan, rock cut, all alligned to East), and the site of "The Five Virgins" which is actually a collection of late Minoan rock cut tombs (incorporating a much later Xtian church) near to Agiropouli, which also has a holy spring and what is possibly the oldest tree in Crete - hard to find but worth it (Stellios, in the "Lappa Avocado" shop will be happy to direct you).
It's a magical island - the wind from the mountains has a supernatural quality, and you never feel that you are totally alone, as if you are being watched and guided. Lots of Byzantine art for Mrs Wiggy (and me) too - we will be going back.
Quite good if you like lizards too! =;0)
