West House at Vasiliki

The West House is one component of an architectural complex previously known as the “House on the Hilltop” built at Vasiliki in Early Minoan IIB. The other component is the Red House, which served as a residential area. The West House was built as an annex to the Red House, with poorer construction. The West House is believed to have been an area for storage as well as weaving, which is indicated by the presence of loom weights. These buildings are examples of early complex architecture on Crete, showing the development of planning and architectural sophistication at a stage before the appearance of Minoan palaces. The techniques used at Vasiliki were particular to this Minoan settlement alone. The thick walls of the West House were made of mud with wooden beams laid horizontally and transversely to strengthen the walls. The building was destroyed by fire around the end of the EMIIB period.