The INSTAP Study Center for East Crete offers many advantages to individual scholars and projects working on Crete. Featured here are summary accounts of the facilities at the Center, or “The Kentro” as it is affectionately known to the local villagers.
The Library
The library’s collection focuses on all periods of Cretan history and culture with an emphasis on the Aegean Bronze and Iron Ages. In addition to numerous books and periodicals, the collection contains many geological maps of Crete and the surrounding islands, and an extensive offprint file with over 2000 articles. The library’s holdings do not circulate.
Periodicals and serials housed at the Center include: Aegean Archaeology, Amaltheia, American Journal of Archaeology, Anatolian Studies, Annual of the British School of Archaeology at Athens, Annuario della Scuola Archeologica di Atene, Antiquity, Archaeologia, Archaeologischer Anzeiger, Archaeologike Ephemeris, Ariadne, Bulletin de Correspondance Hellenique, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, Corpus der Minoischen und Mykenischen Siegel, Cretica Antica, Cretan Congress, Cretan Studies, Archaeologikon Deltion, Etudes Cretoises, Eulimene, Hesperia, Hydra, Incunabula Graeca, Jarbuch des Deutschen Archaeologischer Instituts, Journal for the American Institute for Conservation, Journal of Field Archaeology, Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology, Journal of Modern Greek Studies, Journal of Prehistoric Religion, Kadmos, Kretika Chronika, Kretike Estia, Kretiko Panorama, Kretikoi Orizontes, MASCA Journal, Minos, Opuscula Atheniensia, Praktika, Studi Micenei ed Egeo Anatolici, Studies in Conservation, Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology, Temple University Aegean Symposium, and Archaeologikon Ergon.
Library Contributions
Contributions of books, offprints, and maps relevant to the Aegean are sought and will be much appreciated. To make a donation, please contact the Study Center Library.
The Computer Laboratory
Several PCs, supporting printers, large flatbed scanners, and a film scanner are available to members at the Center. The Computer Laboratory and the library both have tables with electrical outlets that can be used by individuals who bring their own laptops. Wireless internet is available in most areas of the building. For a list of the software available at the Center, please contact the Director.
The W.D.E. Coulson Conservation Laboratory
The Conservation Laboratory is equipped to offer state-of-the-art consolidation, protection, and restoration to a wide range of archaeological materials including bone, shell, ceramics, glass, stone, and metals. A portable Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy instrument (LIBS) constructed by the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) can obtain rapid, nondestructive, qualitative elemental analysis of a wide variety of ancient materials including metals, faience, and ceramic decoration. A Faxitron X-ray unit produces images of the internal structure of metal (with the exception of lead), bone, ceramic, glass, and archaeobotanical material, which reveal technological details and aid conservators in artifact preservation. Before conservation, samples may be collected from pottery using a nondestructive procedure and stored for later organic residue analysis by gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Objects to be sampled require special handling; for specific strategies, we provide instructions in English or Greek. For information about the conservation techniques performed at the Center, contact the Conservation Laboratory. Conservation work is available only with prior approval to avoid scheduling conflicts.
The Photographic Studio
The Photographic Studio is staffed with a professional photographer, who provides timely, high-quality service to members. High-quality digital photography is available, producing images in “tiff” format. A small charge covers the shipping and material costs. The Photographic Studio also offers aerial photography using a 9 meter boom with a camera attachment that can capture a “bird’s eye” view of areas up to 8 by 10 meters. For further information, please contact the Director or Photographer.
The Drafting Room
Our Drafting Room is equipped with large tables, two adjustable drafting tables, a light table, and storage drawers for maps and over-sized drawings. The Study Center’s artist, Petrographer, and the GPR specialist are based here as well as artists and architects for various excavations. Many types of illustrations are produced here including site plans, images of objects, digital photographs of petrographic thin sections, and 3-dimensional images of features beneath the earth’s surface.
Work Spaces
Various work spaces are available to members of the Center. Interior space with tables and cabinets is located in the study hall. The stoa offers covered exterior space with tables, and additional space is located in the central courtyard and in the exterior court behind the Center’s building.
The Central Courtyard
The Kentro’s central courtyard provides an attractive work area as well as a formal backdrop for the Center’s Summer Lecture Series.
The Stoa
The Stoa and a large courtyard are located immediately south of the Study Center. Theses spaces are used by projects for the processing and sorting of potsherds and other finds during the spring, summer and fall.