2014 excavation results at Kissonerga-Skalia in Paphos

The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works of the Republic of Cyprus, has announced the results of the fifth season of investigations at Kissonerga-Skalia in Paphos (2014) conducted under the direction of Dr Lindy Crewe of the University of Manchester. The site is located approximately 300m from the coast and adjacent to the south of the Neolithic-Chalcolithic-Philia Phase (c. 6200-2400 BC) settlement of Kissonerga-Mosphilia, which has been extensively excavated and published during the previous years by Professor Edgar Peltenburg.

View of the excavations at Kissonerga-Skalia in Paphos [Credit: Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus]

Within the plot, in which excavations have solely focused since 2010 at Kissonerga-Skalia, in situ deposits have now been revealed dating from the Late Chalcolithic, through the Philia, Early-Middle Bronze Age to Late Bronze Age IA (ca 2700–1600BC). However, in most of the area exposed these phases do not occur in continuous sequence. In all areas under investigation, archaeological deposits are truncated by 1973-74 machine terracing and ploughing for agricultural activities. Archaeological deposits in situ occur at a depth of 0.40m (in the north)-0.90m (in the south) from the present surface.

Previously, during the 2012 season it had been established that in the northernmost part of the plot the Bronze Age surface has been truncated to a depth of up to 2m. The prehistoric land surface in the lower part of the area has been completely removed by terracing. Survey undertaken in 2009 showed a spread of Bronze Age archaeological material over an area of 10ha, although it is uncertain if some of this material originates from the spread of soils after the 1973-74 machine terracing. The area of the site, in which excavation has been proceeding, is therefore only ca 2,400 sq. m, a small proportion of the entire site.

During the 2014 season, the remains of an architectural complex discovered during the previous seasons in the upper levels of the site were further revealed. They are dated to the final phase (phase III) of the Middle Bronze Age and the earliest phase (phase IA) of the Late Bronze Age. This is the only known Middle Bronze Age III – Late Bronze Age IA large-scale building that has been discovered until now to the southwest of the Troodos Mountains. Its exposed area now extends over 900 sq.m.

In the southernmost part of the excavation, a floor surface and associated architectural remnants dating to either the Philia phase or Early Bronze Age I have been revealed. The area is scarred with pits, making retrieval of a large sample of uncontaminated material difficult. However, underlying this floor surface additional pits, securely of Philia phase date, have been revealed.

Source: Ministry of Communications and Works of the Republic of Cyprus [January 09, 2015]