The Prepalatial cemetery of Koumasa lies between the villages of Loukia and Koumasa on the south of the Messara plain at the foot of the Asterousia mountains. The site was first excavated from 1904 to 1906 by Xanthoudides. There are four tombs on the site -- three tholos tombs and a rectagular one. All the tombs contained burial goods dating from the Early Minoan period and the EM IIA Koumasa style of vases took its name from finds removed from this site. Among the finds were clay and stone vases, seals, figurines, tools and three silver daggers. Above the tombs was settlement containing a shrine but this has now been completely destroyed..