The Division of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Tradition, declares the completion of the fourth excavation season for 2024 at Kouklia-Marchello (Palaepaphos) by the Division of Historical past and Archaeology of the Nationwide and Kapodistrian College of Athens (NKUA).
The excavation was funded by NKUA and carried out by a workforce of 12 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral college students beneath the course of Professor of Archaeology Konstantinos Kopanias. Heat thanks are as a result of group of Kouklia, who generously offered meals and lodging for the scholars.
A sequence of investigations at Marchello has been carried out by a British (1950-55) and a Swiss-German archaeological mission (1966-73, 1985, 1992-95), in addition to extra not too long ago by the College of Cyprus (2006-08). Earlier investigations revealed a part of a monumental 168-meter-long wall, although its excavation was by no means totally accomplished. The relationship of the person development phases of the wall, in addition to its general interpretation, stays unresolved.
The earlier excavation seasons of the NKUA offered vital new proof, confirming the existence of an earlier section of the wall, which dates to the Late Cypriot IIC interval (thirteenth century BC). Nonetheless, the relationship of the later development phases remained problematic. Throughout the 2024 excavation season, emphasis was positioned on investigating a tunnel that cuts throughout the wall at a depth of two.3 meters. Cautious excavation of the tunnel allowed for a extra complete understanding of the stratigraphy and the relationship of the later phases of the wall. New proof emerged supporting F. Maier’s view that the wall was repaired in the course of the Cypro-Archaic and later within the Cypro-Classical interval. Nonetheless, the sooner concept suggesting that the tunnels present in numerous sections of the wall have been constructed in 499/498 BC, in the course of the siege of Palaepaphos by the Persians, was not confirmed. The aim of those tunnels stays enigmatic in the meanwhile, and it’s hoped that future findings will supply new insights into their interpretation.
The 2024 excavation additionally centered on investigating a monument situated to the north of the wall, in shut proximity to it, which has a “Π” form and faces the ocean. Beforehand, it was thought that this construction was a part of the fortifications and functioned as a defensive tower. Nonetheless, the brand new excavation revealed that it isn’t related to the wall and sure had a cultic operate. The presently obtainable excavation information point out that it was based in a layer from the Late Cypriot III interval (Twelfth-Eleventh century BC), fell into disuse in the course of the Cypro-Geometric interval, and was later repaired in the course of the Cypro-Archaic interval (sixth century BC). In 2023, depictions of two engraved ships have been discovered on the outer aspect of this enigmatic construction, resembling related depictions of boats at Kition. In 2024, one other depiction of a ship was found, although it remained unfinished.
A exceptional discover from this 12 months’s excavation season was a small, fragmentary inscription within the Cypriot syllabary, present in secondary use, embedded in a wall from the Cypro-Archaic interval. The findings from the examine of the inscription are eagerly anticipated.
The NKUA excavation is carried out in shut collaboration with the continued Palaepaphos City Panorama Mission (PULP) of the College of Cyprus, directed by Professor Maria Iacovou. The shut cooperation between the 2 analysis groups contributes to the preservation and scientific promotion of the archaeological heritage of the broader Palaepaphos area. The fifth annual NKUA mission will happen in 2025.
