Archaeology of Cyprus
Subsequent findings and analysis detail the social and physical landscapes of ancient Cyprus as well as their evolving culture, religious beliefs and technology throughout antiquity.
Archaeological developments are supported by international and local institutions that sponsor lectures on various Cypriot topics, seminars, excavation work and surveys.
They have also contributed to the publishing of past findings, sponsoring lectures, seminars and colloquia based on various topics related to Cypriot archaeology within Cyprus and internationally in North America and other parts of Europe.
In order to target recent ethical issues and overcrowding, the Department has initiated a further policy focused on decentralising the exhibitions of antiquities closer to their original area of discovery, which has subsequently helped disperse tourism.
[5] Opened in 1987, the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation is a private institution that has contributed its numismatic collection to the Museum of the History of Cypriot Coinage.
The project has worked specifically on the area surrounding the villages of Yialia, Samara and Kato Pyrgos, discovering dozens of previously unknown or unrecorded sites.
The survey further reveals the largely dense occupation of northwestern Cyprus during the late Roman and Byzantine times, corroborating with the studies of the Danish Akamas Project.
[8] The development of this local, systematic fieldwork was attributed to international aid from 27 foreign groups and expeditions assisting ongoing Cypriot projects in accordance with the Department of Antiquities.
[9] In December 2018, a Byzantine church with mosaics including inscriptions in perfect condition dating back to the reign of Emperor Heraclius was discovered during the twelfth excavation season under the supervision of Dr Eleni Procopiou at the site of Katalymata ton Plakoton, according to an Athens Macedonia News Agency.
Sites under threat include the Ancient Tamassos Tomb in Paphos due to tourism-associated projects and plans to develop a new archaeological park.
The building of hotels at Amathus, an Iron Age city kingdom with a temple to Aphrodite and burial grounds from the Cypro-Geometric to the Roman period, has also prompted rescue archaeology after the discovery of ancient remains during site development.
In addition, the remains of seats surrounding the main stage of Kourion’s Stadion, estimating 7 rows with a height of 4 meters, shows the large entertainment industry.
Further remains show the conversion of Cypriot entertainment to Roman housing after Rome’s expansion, that was later destroyed by natural disasters, namely the earthquakes of AD 322 and 342.
[20] In recent discoveries from Pasydy hill in Nicosia, Archaeologists have found an overlay of buildings from the 5th century BC in the city’s central park also led by the Department of Antiquities.
During the 1961 department analysis of the site of ‘Paliokastro’, the discovery of partially looted tombs from the Cypro-Archaic and Classic periods (700-400 BC) displayed a variety of different cultural influences.
The pottery white painted IV and V, Red II and Biochrome types showed influence and varied import relations with the East Greek.
[22] In the mid 20th century, before the creation and widespread use of the aqualung, maritime archaeology in Cyprus was mainly focused on harbour sites such as Ayios Philon excavated by Joan du Plat Taylor in the 1930s.
[24] A variety of artefacts were discovered ranging from Rhodian and Samian amphorae, mill stones, drinking cups, and remains of a 4th century BC cargo vessel with its brailing rings, rudder and 60% of its hull.
