Letter: What about them Minoans, then?

From Mick Morris

Was the Indus civilisation as unique as Andrew Robinson suggests (17 September, p 30)? Parts of his article could have been describing the Minoan society of prehistoric Crete, extant at about the same time.

There is little evidence of warfare in Minoan society; no memorials of battles or powerful leaders; nor are there examples of weaponry beyond the symbolic. The Minoans traded exquisite carved seal or gem stones around the eastern Mediterranean.

Their housing showed little in the way of hierarchy, with most living in 5-roomed dwellings. They appear to have kept stores of food, olive oil and wine that we think were used to feed the population in leaner periods.

Women were as frequently portrayed as men in the images we have discovered, and appear to be taking at least an equal part in the ceremonies shown.

Waterlooville, Hampshire, UK