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The Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of State for Culture announces the end of this year's excavation at Pyla-Kokkinokremos. The excavation was conducted from 30 March to 28 April under the direction of Professor Joachim Bretschneider of Ghent University, in collaboration with Professor Sorin Hermon (Cyprus Institute), Dr Reinhard Jung (Austrian Academy of Science) and Professor Lina Kassianidou (University of Cyprus).
The excavation research focused on the eastern side of the plateau and more specifically on Section 5, as well as on Section 7, located on the western side of the plateau.
The excavation in Sector 5 aimed to investigate Sites 5.48 and 5.49, which were partially excavated in 2021, in order to determine their boundaries, and to examine the adjacent sites to the north and south. A shaft was identified during the excavation of Site 5.49. The shaft is approximately square in shape, three metres deep and occupies a large part of the room. Within it, pieces of copper alloy and part of a stone basin were identified. In addition, anthropogenic notches were found in the walls of the well, which were probably used as steps or to support wooden beams.
On the northern side of Room 5.49, two more separate rooms were found, which nevertheless communicate with each other. These are Sites 5.51 and 5.52 in which fragments of stones were found. In addition, in Site 5.52 two fragmentary Base Ring II type nails and a bronze object, probably from a broken bracelet, were found.
Site 5.48 was also excavated, south of Site 5.49, which had been partially excavated in previous excavation periods. In 2023 the western section and wall of this site was located. A significant number of pottery vessels were found on the floor, including a stopper, a large number of stone sherds, a small pithos, a shallow vase with a tall foot, a Canaanite amphora, parts of a stone basin, two probable stone tools and a rim of an alabaster vessel. A grey surface found in the centre of the room was interpreted as a hearth. Based on the preliminary analysis, it appears to be an outdoor room (courtyard) with several entrances.
Further south, Site 5.39B yielded stone fragments and probably fine pottery sherds. There are probably entrances leading north to Site 5.48 and west to a small room, Site 5.53, within which two fragmentary Canaanite amphorae were identified.
Sector 7.1
Site 7.1.1 yielded fragments of Canaanite amphorae, a clay loom weight, and a sharpener or anvil. The existence of an entrance between Site 7.1.1 and Site 7.1.3 was also confirmed. It seems that Site 7.1.3 was mainly used as a corridor, considering its narrow shape. In the eastern part of Area 7.1.3 there is a small arch, in which three unfinished vases, a Canaanite amphora, an Acosmotic Rhythm pipe and a Cypriot Acosmotic Rhythm projectile were found. The finds point to a storage area.
Site 7.1.1 is joined by the smaller Site 7.1.2 to the east. Several finds were identified there, including small pots, a stone mortar, a fragmentary spatula, and a well-preserved copper alloy axe. To the north of Site 7.1.2 is another narrow site, Site 7.1.4, the floor of which is at a higher level than Sites 7.1.1-7.1.3. The excavation revealed fragments of a written Mycenaean amphoroidal crater with deer decoration, cooking vessels, a Canaanite amphora, bronze plates and a stone loom weight.
Lower down the slope in Site 7.1, another building was excavated, which had been identified in 2019. It measures 6x8 metres and is located close to the slope, where we assume the access to the harbour was. This building has three parallel square rooms (Sites 7.2.1, 7.2.2 and 7.2.3), of which Site 7.2.1 was excavated to the west. The room has two doors and contains fragments of cooking pots and a small thin amphorae crater and clay loom weight. What is remarkable about this room is that sandy fill, resembling beach sand, was found in it. A similar fill was found only in Sections 5 and 7.1.
Fig. 1: Section 7.1- Sites 7.1.5 and 7.1.6 in the foreground and Sites 7.1.1. and 7.1.2. in the background
Fig. 2: Section 7.1, Site 7.1.4; Site 7.1.4-Miocene amphoroidal crater of graphite type with deer decoration
(MB/EXP)
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