Heraklion, Crete – August 26, 2025 – The Heraklion Municipal Council has issued a resolution calling for the comprehensive protection of a unique 4,000-year-old Minoan structure discovered on Papoura Hill, the site designated for the new international airport in Kasteli. The resolution, passed by a majority vote on August 25, 2025, supports the immediate safeguarding of the monument against the planned installation of an airport radar system on the same hill, urging for a relocation of the electronic facility.

The decision follows a request from the Municipality of Minoa Pediada and aligns with a unanimous resolution from the Regional Council of Crete. It underscores a growing chorus of concern from heritage bodies and the public over the future of what is being described as a discovery of singular importance for Minoan archaeology.

The monumental structure, unearthed during construction work for the new airport, is a large, circular, labyrinthine building approximately 48 meters in diameter. Archaeologists date its primary period of use to the Middle Minoan period (2000-1700 BCE). Its scale, unique design consisting of eight concentric stone rings, and prominent location suggest it may have served as a significant communal or ceremonial center.

While acknowledging the strategic importance of the new Kasteli airport for the development of Crete, the Heraklion Municipal Council’s resolution emphasizes that the project’s progress cannot come at the cost of irreversible damage to the region’s cultural heritage. The area is rich with significant archaeological sites, including the Minoan palace at Galatas, and the ancient cities of Lyktos and Arcadia, forming a landscape of immense historical value.

The core of the issue lies in the planned installation of a primary surveillance radar for the new airport on the summit of Papoura Hill, in immediate proximity to the ancient monument. Critics argue this would desecrate the site, impede further archaeological investigation, and make its future preservation and public presentation virtually impossible. This has been described as creating a “monumental sandwich,” trapping a 4,000-year-old treasure between modern technological installations.

In its official resolution, the Heraklion Municipal Council formally requests the following actions:

• Designation of Papoura Hill as an archaeological site of major importance.
• The identification of a suitable alternative location for the airport’s radar installation.
• The prevention of any modern construction on Papoura Hill.
• The full excavation and archaeological investigation of the monument and its surrounding area.
• The development of the site for public visitation.
• A halt to all work on Papoura Hill until definitive decisions are made regarding the protection of the monument.

This resolution reflects a broader debate across Crete concerning the balance between large-scale development and the preservation of the island’s irreplaceable historical and cultural identity. The decision now rests with the national authorities to determine whether this unique window into the Minoan past will be preserved for future generations or overshadowed by the infrastructure of the present.