Knossos is one of the premier archaeological sites in Europe, with continuous occupation from the Neolithic through to the early Byzantine period, and offering near unrivalled opportunities for excavation and research. Supporting the ongoing study of this significant site, the Knossos Research Centre is located on the former estate of Sir Arthur Evans, close to his residence – the Villa Ariadne.
Knossos has been a major focus of the British School’s involvement in Greece since the pioneering work of Sir Arthur Evans and David Hogarth over a century ago. As one of the premier archaeological sites in Europe, with continuous occupation from the Neolithic through to the early Byzantine period, it offers near unrivalled opportunities for excavation and research. The Knossos Research Centre is located on the former estate of Sir Arthur Evans, close to his residence – the Villa Ariadne. The compound includes a hostel, a research library, and the Stratigraphical Museum with working spaces for the study of archaeological material, storage for on-going excavation and survey projects, together with historic collections of material from excavations at Knossos dating back to Evans’ time.
The Centre’s objective is to support and enhance the study of material culture, society, economy, and ideology, from the Neolithic to the present and to engage the public in order to share academic knowledge and make archaeology relevant to society. These aims are achieved through research projects undertaken as part of wider BSA projects or in collaboration with other UK- and Hellenic-based institutions, as well as with universities, research and cultural organizations in Europe and beyond; conferences, training courses for postgraduates, lectures and cultural events; and cultural educational programmes for UK-based and international academic students, members of cultural associations and local schools.
