The Minoan complex of Vathipetro lies in a location named “Piso Livadia”, four km south of Archanes in Heraklion, central Crete. It was discovered by Spyros Marinatos in 1949. The excavation revealed a big structure, parts of which are two-storey with colourful walls. The Vathipetro complex which probably belonged to a local ruler, has all the features of a small palace. It is estimated that its construction started around 1580 BC but only the west part was completed. Around 1550 BC it was abandoned probably because of an earthquake. 

A wine press prominently features in the south room of the structure. Marinatos considers it as “one of a kind” industrial creation of 16th century BC Minoan Crete, although he speculates that the room where it was found was probably intended for another purpose, as its grandeur implies. In the north-eastern corner of the same room, there was a shallow vessel like a large basin, with solid handles and a long spout. This vessel stood on a pedestal, made of small stones and clay, while its mouth outpoured in another shallow vessel. A third vessel stood in the northwest corner of the room. According to the archaeologist, the large clay vessel was used for crushing the grapes. The crushing was done by a single person held, no doubt, by a rope suspended from the ceiling, as we see in Egyptian depictions. Holding the rope prevented the person from falling. The juice ran into the second vessel, while the third had an auxiliary use.