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- Ελληνικά
The Department of Antiquities of the Deputy Ministry of Culture announces the end of the third excavation period at the site of Kouklia-Marchello by the Department of History and Archaeology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA). The excavation was directed by Associate Professor of Archaeology Konstantinos Kopanias. The excavation team consisted of 17 undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students and was funded by the University of Cyprus.
A series of excavations have been carried out at the Kouklia-Marchello site by the British (1950-55) and the German-Swiss Mission (1966-73, 1985, 1992-95), and more recently by the University of Cyprus (2006-08).
A series of excavations have been carried out at the Kouklia-Marchello site by the British (1950-55) and the German-Swiss Mission (1966-73, 1985, 1992-95), as well as more recently by the University of Cyprus (2006-08). Earlier investigations revealed part of a monumental wall totalling 168 metres in length, but without its excavation being completed. The dating of the individual building phases of the wall and its overall interpretation still remains unclear.
During the excavation period of 2023, a small cut was made in the interior of the wall. The excavation allowed for the first time the documentation of the stratigraphy of its foundation. The preliminary study of the pottery indicates that the earliest building phase of the wall belongs to the Late Cypriot IIC period (13th century BC) (Fig. 1). At the end of this period the wall fell into disuse and some of the stones from its superstructure were used for the construction of another wall a few metres to the north. This wall was probably an enclosure, as it was crudely built and has been excavated over a considerable length. At the same time a currently enigmatic structure was constructed, which appears to be in the shape of the letter 'P' and facing the sea. A total of three different building phases were identified for this structure, which appears to have been in use for a considerable period of time. Of particular interest is the fact that on two stones of this structure two ships were depicted schematically, which are very similar to the representations of ships of the Late Cypriot III period in Kition (Fig. 2). Preliminary study of the pottery indicates that the enclosure and this particular structure probably date to the Late Cypriot III period (12th-11th century BC). However, the completion of the pottery study is awaited to confirm the dating.
The analysis of the stratigraphy shows that there was no significant use of the site during the Cypro-Geometric period. In the late Cypro-Archaic or early Cypro-Classical period (late 6th/early 5th century BC) a trench (tunnel) was opened under the wall in a north-south direction. F. Maier's excavations have revealed similar tunnels in various parts of the wall. According to the interpretation of F. Maier and earlier excavators, the tunnels were opened during the siege of (Paleo)Paphos by the Persians. The excavation finds of 2022 and 2023 do not seem to confirm this theory, at least in the case of the new tunnel, but the absence of finds does not yet allow a secure interpretation of the construction.
The EKPA research is carried out in close cooperation with the existing Palaeipafos Urban Landscape Investigation Programme of the University of Cyprus, directed by Professor M. Iakovou. The close collaboration between the two research groups contributes to the investigation, study and scientific promotion of the archaeological wealth of the Palaepafos area. The fourth annual mission will take place in 2024. The excavators express their sincere thanks to the community of Kouklia, as they partially covered the cost of the food and offered the possibility to host the students.
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