Early Minoan

[polymathy]

3000-2650
EM I period contemporary with EC I, Kampos phase of Grotta-Pelos culture

at the end of the Neolithic, there were open sites at Knossos and Phaistos, but most Neolithic sites were in caves
still some caves in EM I but more open sites
Incised Ware shows contact with Grotta-Pelos culture
not much metal, but metallurgy probably being practiced
maybe seals, but no evidence yet

EM II 2650-2150
Goddess of Myrtos - a ritual rhyton shaped like a woman holding a jug
Myrtos destroyed by fire 2850-2305
HoT destroyed ca. 2300
long-lived Minoan stone vase industry begins
sealstones definitely being produced
marble figurines more common, FAF imports from the Cyclades, and specifically Cretan Koumasa imitations of the FAFs

Vasiliki
Red House, West House, many rooms
destroyed by fire at or near end of EM IIB period
no question of an outside invasion, too much continuity, but maybe some centralization of power in the last century or two of EBA?

definite connections with the mainland, as sauceboat fragments appear
Minoan activity on Kythera, but probably not a colony yet, just fishermen debris
stone bowls of Egyptian manufacture may show contact with Egypt or the Levant

EM III
short period
egg-cup pottery characteristic
most EM structures at the central part of the Knossos palace hill were leveled for building the palaces