Archaeologists excavating a previously unknown Minoan site near Chania have unearthed electrum-veined stone pestles and mortars, significantly larger than domestic tools. Residue analysis suggests they were used to grind highly concentrated mixtures of saffron, coriander, and cedar resin during a massive seasonal event dubbed the 'Spice-Pounding' festival.
This discovery provides the first physical evidence of a multi-day community ritual focused on the sensory production of sacred aromatics. The site features a central sunken plaza with stone seating, suggesting that the rhythmic pounding of spices was both a culinary and a performative act central to Bronze Age Cretan identity. The find highlights the importance of aromatic crafts in early Aegean religious life.