History

According to the historical information that we have gathered, the domestication and cultivation of the olives in the Greek areas started with the birth of the financial and social organization of the Neolithic period (approximately 9000 to 5500 years ago), around the densely populated and developed areas. One of these areas in Crete is the greater one of Mesara, wherethe Palace of Phaistos is also located. Although, the number of testimonies from this period is limited, we know that the olive and its products were some of the inhabitants’ main nutritional elements.

The first findings, regarding the olive and olive oil, were recorded in the Prepalatialperiod (5500-4000 years ago) and the Protopalatial period (4000-3700 years ago). These findings include kernelsand indications for olive- growing developments, as well as, olive press and giant jars remainings in the Palace of Phaistos.
Through the above, the nutritional importance and use of the olive is obvious!

Frescos, amphoras, lamps, painted vases, miniatures and texts in the syllabic script, Linear B, suggest that during the Neopalatial and Cretomycenean period (3,700 to 3000 years ago), the cultivation of the olive was one of the key sectors of the Minoan economy.

Finally, findings explain the process of the olive harvest and collection, using the “original” methods of the times to produce the precious olive oil.