One of the two great cultures that flourished in Bronze Age Greece is the Minoan civilisation, based on the island of Crete. Despite flourising for many hundreds of years between around 3000 BCE to 1100 BCE, the Minoan culture suddenly disappeared and was almost unknown for centuries, except for references to it in Greek mythology.
Almost 3000 years later, the Minoan civilisation was rediscovered by English journalist and archaeologist Arthur Evans (1851-1941) who visited Crete in 1894 to study ancient writing on engraved seal stones. Convinced that he had discovered evidence of an important early civilisation, Evans was able to purchase land, and excavated at the site of Knossos from 1900 to 1932. He uncovered a great palace complex, and brought the Minoan culture back into the light.