Two Greek archaeological associations have warned that planned radar works on Papoura Hill in Crete could damage a rare Bronze Age monument discovered during construction of the new Heraklion airport at Kastelli.
The Crete branch of the Association of Greek Archaeologists and the Association of Contract Archaeologists issued their joint statement after Greece’s Council of State rejected an appeal against installing air-navigation systems near the site. The ruling cleared a legal obstacle, but it did not resolve the dispute over how the monument will be protected.
The associations say excavation and conservation work remains incomplete. They also allege that blasting, rock removal and heavy machinery are being prepared before final siting, conservation, stabilization and structural-safety studies have been approved.
Why the Papoura Monument Matters
The circular complex was discovered on the summit of Papoura Hill in 2024 as crews prepared the area for airport radar systems. The Hellenic Ministry of Culture described it as a unique find for Minoan archaeology. The monument is about 48 meters in diameter and covers roughly 1,800 square meters. Eight concentric stone rings form a labyrinth-like plan on the highest point of the hill. Archaeological evidence places its main use in the Middle Bronze Age, with activity continuing into later Minoan periods.
Its exact function remains unsettled. Later excavation results suggested that people periodically gathered there for communal ceremonies or feasts, adding evidence to the debate over the purpose of the Minoan labyrinth. The discovery was later recognized among Greece’s leading archaeological finds and received a major international archaeology award in 2025.
Archaeologists argue that the archaeological investigation must be completed before technical work proceeds nearby. They note that the required conservation, stabilization, presentation and structural studies have not been submitted for approval and that the exposed remains still lack a permanent or temporary shelter.
Court Ruling Leaves Preservation Questions Open
The controversy has followed the airport project since the monument was uncovered. Greek Reporter reported in July 2025 that handling of the Minoan find had become a point of dispute. The Culture Ministry later approved radar installation on the hill, while the municipality of Minoa Pediada and local groups challenged the decision.
On September 25, the Council of State rejected that appeal. ERT reported at the time that the municipality was waiting for the written reasoning and considering further legal options.
Maria Mari, president of the Crete branch of the archaeologists’ association, told local radio station Politica that the groups would continue using legal and institutional avenues, including at the European level. She said the problem was larger than the monument itself because the surrounding landscape would also be changed by the works.
Papoura is distinct from better-known Minoan centers such as the Palace of Knossos, but its unusual circular plan may broaden what archaeologists know about public gathering places in Bronze Age Crete. The associations are calling for the radar to be moved and for the monument to remain under public protection.
