Problems of roofing of Early Minoan Tholos Tombs: the case of Kamilari A tholos tomb in the western Mesara plain

The Minoan tholos tomb (known also as the Mesara-type tomb) is a stone-built circular structure, widespread in the Mesara plain during the Early Minoan period, with some re-use during the Middle Minoan and Late Minoan periods. These circular structures, not covered by soil and therefore visible above ground, usually had a small entrance on the east side; annex rooms were at some point added mostly on the east side, together with other structures, such as rectangular funerary buildings, peribolos-walls, paved area, altars and platforms. Archaeological excavations have shown that Minoan tholos tombs have been found isolated or clustered in groups. They have been used over several centuries, for multiple burials, with primary and secondary burial practices attested within the main chambers and the external rooms. Although a number of these circular buildings show traces of a corbelled roof, the argument of a stone vault has been discussed by various scholars in the past years often with open or not unanimous conclusions . Aside from the scholars who deny the existence of any vault, those who have argued for a vaulted roof have suggested several solutions (stones or lighter and perishable materials, such as mud bricks or wood), each of them supported by defined arguments, but each interpretation has always avoided the discussion of a possible true vault, since its first appearance must be placed in the Mycenaean period. The present article will try to explore once again the question of the vaulted roof by examining the case of Kamilari A Minoan tholos tomb. Thanks to the good state of conservation of the walls, preserved at a significant height in some parts, the following analysis will try to verify whether the tholos tomb had a vaulted roof or not, and to argue about possible reasons for its collapse. The following analysis does not aim to extend the hypothesis of roof profiles to all Minoan tholos tombs, especially if one bears in mind the peculiar state of preservation of Kamilari tholos A as well as the fact that it was one of the latest buildings of this type to be constructed at the beginning of II millennium BC.