4,000-year-old Cretan hilltop mystifies Greek archaeologists. It could spell trouble for new airport

By NICHOLAS PAPHITIS
Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A big, round, 4,000-year-old stone building discovered on a Cretan hilltop is puzzling archaeologists and threatening to disrupt a major airport project on the Greek tourist island. Greece’s Culture Ministry said that the structure is a “unique and extremely interesting find” from Crete’s Minoan civilization, famous for its sumptuous palaces, flamboyant art and enigmatic writing system. Resembling a huge car wheel from above, the ruins of the labyrinthine building came to light during a recent dig by archaeologists. Experts don’t yet know what the structure was for but believe it could have been used for a ritual or religious function.