Archaeologists complete new research phase at Malia’s ancient agora, 60 years after work stopped
A new archaeological research campaign at the Agora of the Minoan palace at Malia has brought to light architectural levels left untouched since excavations by Henri van Effenterre stopped roughly 60 years ago, according to the French School at Athens (EFA).
The campaign, the second phase of a cleaning and documentation project, was carried out under the direction of Bastien Rueff of the EFA. Work focused on the north, west and south wings of the site, completing a phase of research that had already covered the east wing.
According to the excavation team, this year’s work allowed researchers to reach architectural levels where van Effenterre’s excavations had stopped nearly six decades ago. The team says the find opens new possibilities for understanding the urban layout and historical development of the Minoan agora.
Students and researchers from several universities
The fieldwork involved archaeology students from the University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne — Arno Charra, Romane Just, Janice Kathapermal and Enola Schartier — as well as Dimitris Karatzanis from the Catholic University of Louvain, Chrysostomos Koukouvinos from the Open University of Cyprus, and Giada Tommolillo from the University of Bologna.
Maxence Barbier and Laureline Pop, both of the EFA, and Stella Messariti also took part in the fieldwork.
From cleaning to high-technology surveying, with FORTH
Beyond clearing the site, the project included several specialized studies. A ceramics study was carried out with Roxane Dubois of the Catholic University of Louvain and the AEGIS research group.
A geophysical survey was also conducted by the GéoSat team of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), under the supervision of Nikos Papadopoulos of the Institute of Mediterranean Studies at FORTH, aimed at further investigating the remains and layout of the site.
The study of architectural remains was carried out by Marilena Paterakis of the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies at Athens, while Brieuc Guillaume of the EFA carried out topographic surveys to support more precise recording of the archaeological data.
Continuing work begun in 2025
The campaign builds on research that began in 2025 and is part of a wider effort to re-examine and document the Agora at Malia, according to the EFA. The combination of cleaning, ceramic study, geophysical survey, architectural documentation and topographic mapping has produced what the team describes as an integrated body of data.
The researchers say the recovery of levels first revealed during van Effenterre’s excavations more than six decades ago now offers an opportunity to study the site using current research and documentation methods.
The Agora at Malia remains a significant site for ongoing archaeological study, with the new work gradually adding to the understanding of the organization, architecture and historical development of the ancient settlement.
