An attempt to look afresh at 'old' material such as the well-known seals of Crete. Sbonias' study looks first at the settlement picture of the island at the time when these seals were being produced. He then turns his attention to the classification of the seals and the immages on them, dividing them up according to shape and material. This is followed by grouping according to iconographic and stylistic elements. This done, the information is then interpreted so as to reveal niformation on social and economic aspects of the early Cretan seals: what developments are represtented by their use, their decoration and so on.