Knossos – the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete. Knossos had an estimated population of 1,300 to 2,000 in 2500BC, 18,000 in 2000BC, 20,000 to 100,000 in 1600BC and 30,000 in 1360BC. Phaistos – the second-largest palatial building on the island, excavated by the Italian school shortly after Knossos Malia – the subject of French excavations, a palatial center which provides a look into the proto-palatial period Kato Zakros – sea-side palatial site excavated by Greek archaeologists in the far east of the island, also known as "Zakro" in archaeological literature Galatas – confirmed as a palatial site during the early 1990s Kydonia (modern Chania), the only palatial site in West Crete Hagia Triada – administrative center near Phaistos which has yielded the largest number of Linear A tablets. Gournia – town site excavated in the first quarter of the 20th century Pyrgos – early Minoan site in southern Crete Vasiliki – early eastern Minoan site which gives its name to distinctive ceramic ware Fournou Korfi – southern site Pseira – island town with ritual sites Mount Juktas – the greatest Minoan peak sanctuary, associated with the palace of Knossos Arkalochori – site of the Arkalochori Axe Karfi – refuge site, one of the last Minoan sites Akrotiri – settlement on the island of Santorini (Thera), near the site of the Thera Eruption Zominthos – mountainous city in the northern foothills of Mount Ida Beyond Crete The Minoans were traders, and their cultural contacts reached the Old Kingdom of Egypt, copper-containing Cyprus, Canaan and the Levantine coast and Anatolia. In late 2009 Minoan-style frescoes and other artifacts were discovered during excavations of the Canaanite palace at Tel Kabri, Israel, leading archaeologists to conclude that the Minoan influence was the on the Canaanite city-state. Minoan techniques and ceramic styles had varying degrees of influence on Helladic Greece. Along with Santorini, Minoan settlements are found at Kastri, Kythera, an island near the Greek mainland influenced by the Minoans from the mid-third millenniumBC (EMII) to its Mycenaean occupation in the 13th century. Minoan strata replaced a mainland-derived early Bronze Age culture, the earliest Minoan settlement outside Crete. The Cyclades were in the Minoan cultural orbit and, closer to Crete, the islands of Karpathos, Saria and Kasos also contained middle-Bronze Age (MMI-II) Minoan colonies or settlements of Minoan traders. Most were abandoned in LMI, but Karpathos recovered and continued its Minoan culture until