Chrysokamino Copper Workshop at Kavousi

Chrysokamino can be found near the Cave Theriospilios in the Kavousi area of Ierapetra province. The site, locally known as Golden Oven (chrysokamino) due to the frequent discovery of copper pieces, was identified as a metallurgy workshop by archaeologist H. Boyd in 1900. The workshop operated from 4500-3500 BC to the Minoan Era, with significant studies and excavations taking place after 1995.

Chrysokamino was only used for firing copper minerals imported from other regions of the Aegean (possibly Kythnos island or Lavrio near Athens). Other operations, such as cleaning the mineral before firing or melting the produced copper, occurred elsewhere. The site was abandoned after 1400 BC.

Chrysokamino is the only copper foundry site discovered in Preminoan Crete and one of the few encountered in the Aegean. Other sites that may have operated kilns in Crete include Petras at Sitia and Katsambas in Heraklion, but these are considered very small facilities. The location at Kavoussi is considered ideal for a copper furnace, as the strong wind continuously heated the coals at high temperature and removed fumes.