Kouloura

Kouloures are circular subsurface pits with stone walls found at Minoan palaces in Crete, including Knossos, Phaistos, and Malia. Arthur Evans discovered three at Knossos in 1903, naming them after the round Greek bread kouloura due to their shape. All were constructed during the Middle Minoan II period (c. 1850-1750 BC). Their function remains debated, with theories including grain storage, cisterns, ritual offering pits, or refuse disposal. A fourth kouloura was later found under the Theatral Area at Knossos.