This site is situated 2 kms from the village of Palekastro on the beach of Chiona. The excavations carried out at the start of the 20th century by the English archaeologists Bosanquet and Dawkins unearthed a significant Minoan settlement which seems to have reached a peak of power largely in the post Minoan period. Tombs containing large numbers of well preserved bones from the pre Minoan and mid Minoan periods were also discovered.
A central road divides the settlement into nine districts. The houses facing the road have imposing frontages and there was an excellent sewage system. Life here probably came to an end with the eruption of the volcano of Santorini in the 15th century BC. Another important discovery was a large temple of the Priesthood of Zeus which was one of the most well-known priesthoods in Eastern Crete. An inscription on grey limestone found in the ruins of the temple consists of a hymn to Zeus. The hymn was sung by naked young shieldbearers representing the "Kourites" who according to legend were present at the birth of Zeus at Dikteon Andron. The hymn extols the virtues of Zeus and entreats him to send happiness and fertility to those on Earth. Temple worship was probably shrouded in mystery and continued from the Geometric Period up until the Roman occupation.