How Far Did Sir Arthur Evans Contribute To Our Understanding Of The Ancient Past?

A well-excavated archaeological site can contribute greatly to our understanding of the ancient past. The good archaeological practice utilised by Sir Arthur Evans during the excavation of Knossos revealed a new understating of the ancient civilisation, commonly known as the Minoan civilisation. Despite the thorough excavation, his reconstruction of the city is considered inaccurate, creating a false narrative of the civilisation and skewing our understanding of the ancient past.

British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, who led the excavations of Knossos between 1900 and 1931 has been recognised as a leading contributor to our knowledge of the civilisation on Crete. During the excavations, his team utilised a range of archaeological methods

Many images of bulls were found on objects and in wall paintings around Knossos palace. These artefacts when viewed alongside ancient Greek myths reveal that Minoans viewed bulls as sacred creatures. During excavations, Evans discovered several large limestone stone structures that he believed to be bull horns drawing from the Greek Minotaur myth. These objects became known as the Horns of Consecration. Further investigation revealed that Horns of consecration were placed above important entryways, representing a boundary between human and divine realms. This belief is further supported by the archeological finds of vessels and rhytons with bull iconography. These objects often had a sun disc rising or a double axe between the horns of a bullhead. This represents the connection between the bull with the sun and moon, further emphasising its divine status. Other artworks depicting a bull-leaping ritual were also uncovered. Evan’s structured excavation of Knossos revealed lots about the ancient society, as quote by archaologist Sir Leonard Woolley, “ "Evans' work at Knossos was a pioneering effort that revealed an entirely new civilization, its art, and its social structure. His work transformed our understanding of the ancient world and set the standards for modern archaeological practice." If Evans had failed to record the exact

In his enthusiasm to preserve the remains of Knossos, Evans embarked on several restorations to the site. Many of these reconstructions were considered controversial due to their historical inaccuracy. Builders reconstructed some of the rooms using modern materials such as reinforced concrete, rather than stone and wood. Skilled artists were hired to reconstruct some of the damaged frescos. These reconstructions were accused of being based on Evan's imagination rather than fact. English author Evelyn Waugh critisised the painting of the frescoes, suggesting “... their painters have tempered their zeal for accurate reconstruction with a somewhat inappropriate predilection for covers of Vogue.” Additionally, door frames and beams were painted in a non-traditional pink or terracotta colour. While many people dismiss the restoration, others argue that it helps visitors appreciate the skill and grandeur of the palace during ancient times. Additionally, some restorations were deemed necessary in order to preserve the foundations of the site. Despite criticisms of the restoration, Evans's contributions to our understanding of the ancient past cannot be doubted. Archaeologists Louise Zamarti and Aedeen Cremin addressed Evan's contributions to modern archeology, “Archaeologists today are usually able to differentiate between the