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- Ελληνικά
The Department of Antiquities of the Deputy Ministry of Culture announces the completion of the archaeological expedition to the prehistoric site of Makounda-Voules/Mersinoudia, in Paphos District.
The work of the expedition included the study of archaeological material discovered during excavation periods of previous years. The work was conducted between June 6 and July 4, 2024, under the direction of Dr. Kathlyn Grossman, North Carolina State University, with funding from the US National Science Foundation, in collaboration with Dr. Tate Paulette, North Carolina State University, Dr. Lisa Graham and Dr. Andrew MacCarthy, College of Southern Nevada.
The archaeological survey of the site, conducted in 2017, identified evidence of human settlement on the site dating to the Late Chalcolithic and Bronze Age.
During consecutive excavation seasons, 2018, 2019, and 2023, evidence of circular dwellings dating to the Chalcolithic period was uncovered. Fire hearths of uncertain date were also found, as well as mining activity.
In 2024, the study of the material allowed for the analysis of artifacts discovered during the survey and excavations. The study focused on the study of stone tools, pottery, animal bones and small objects.
The pottery dates mainly to the Late Chalcolithic period, with some sherds dating to the Middle Chalcolithic period. All the important finds from the excavations were analysed, and some vessels found on site were welded, including the prehistoric pot, shown in Figure 1.
Analysis of the stone tools revealed the existence of a range of tools for grain processing, e.g. mortars, pestles, hand mills, grinders, and for wood processing, e.g. axes, picks. Many of the tools appear to have been reworked and turned into tools of different shapes, perhaps for completely different uses, such as mining ore.
The study of animal bones has yielded information about people's food and the relationship between humans and animals. Analysis of 2,800 animal bones showed that people consumed mostly deer and pigs, also sheep and deer, and less fish and birds. Deer antlers were also used to make tools, as shown by the sharp object in Figure 2.
Analysis of flint flakes revealed the existence of a set of scrapers, glyphs and sickles. Figure 3 shows a flint scythe with traces of cutting of plant stems, perhaps cereal stems.
The excavation at Makounta-Voules/Mersinoudia provides important new information on the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age on the north-western side of the island. The 2024 study period builds on the work of previous years and, at the same time, raises new questions about social life in prehistoric Cyprus.
(AS/MS)
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