Three years after the start of the excavations, archaeologists found a formal garden, but the full extent of the southern garden wasn’t known until about April of 1969. We now know that the central garden had an area of 250 feet by 320 feet surrounded by colonnades. There was a central path 40 ft wide, which crossed the garden from east, to west, linking the entrance hall and the audience chamber. Bedding trenches were laid around the central path in an ornate patter of semi-circular and rectangular recesses. The garden was also supplied with fresh water by an extensive system of ceramic pipes beneath the paths from a nearby spring. It is believe this water system was used to bring water to fountains along the paths, though no structures of this sort was found. But that’s probably because they were stolen after the palace was abandoned. This great garden enhanced the palatial surroundings and was public to all visitors.