Mycenaean vessels among exciting finds by excavations at Hala Sultan Tekke in Cyprus island

Α Decrease font Enlarge font
Mycenaean vessels among exciting finds by excavations at Hala Sultan Tekke in Cyprus islandExcavations at the site of the Late Cypriot harbour city of Dromolaxia-Vyzakia (Hala Sultan Tekke)

The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works in Cyprus, announces that, during five weeks in April and June 2018, a Swedish team, headed by Professor Peter M. Fischer from the University of Gothenburg, carried out excavations at the Late Cypriot harbour city of Dromolaxia-Vyzakia (Hala Sultan Tekke). The team consisted of 27 students and specialists. Amongst the latter were those trained in osteology, botany, conservation, Aegean and Near Eastern ceramics, and geophysical prospecting.

In June 2017, the site was surveyed with a magnetometer with ten sensors mounted on a 5 m wide cart. This arrangement allowed the mapping of 23 hectares within a week, demonstrating stone structures and "pits" down to a depth of roughly 1.5 m. The architectural remains point to numerous man-made structures in the entire area of the survey, demonstrating the vast extent of the city. In 2018, 0.6 hectares of the magnetometer-surveyed area were re-investigated with georadar in order to see details of the buried features which facilitates the subsequent excavations. However, the results of the georadar survey were of limited value: the strong radar attenuation at the site, due to clay-rich soil, did not allow electromagnetic waves to penetrate deeper than a few decimeters from surface.

Fig1 Chariot krater

 

City Quarter 1 and 4, and Area A

This year's team was divided into three groups: two larger groups excavated in the fenced City Quarter 1 (CQ1) and the recently discovered CQ4 (CQ2 and 3 are also fenced and protected for future research but were not investigated this year). The third group opened two trenches close to Area A, just to the west of the mosque of Hala Sultan Tekke, in order to verify the results of the magnetic prospecting. The magnetometer map showed numerous pits and a few stone built structures in an area where tombs, offering pits and wells were exposed in the seasons 2014-2017.   

City Quarter 1

The results from the excavations in CQ1, which began in 2010, verified earlier observations that the nature of this quarter was mainly industrial but also domestic. CQ1 was used during four phases of occupation dating from Late Cypriot (LC) IIC to LC IIIA, i.e. the 13th and first half of the 12th centuries BC. There is significant evidence of urban copper production (cf. seasons 2013-2017): three furnaces, tuyères, crucibles and nearly half a ton of slag mixed with copper ore were found in the southern part of CQ1. In addition, purple-dyed textiles were produced there judging by numerous finds of bone beaters, loom weights and spindle whorls. Although this part of the city is mainly industrial, much of the pottery (fine wares) and other finds are of surprisingly high quality, indicating the elevated status of the metal and textile workers. Amongst the finds from CQ1 is the ivory pommel of a dagger.

 

Fig2 Local wares


City Quarter 4

This city quarter is between CQ1 and Area A and presents the largest city quarter so far discovered at Hala Sultan Tekke. The magnetometer map shows regularly arranged stone-built compounds of imposing dimensions intersected by streets. The entire layout resembles that of Engomi. The central part of this city quarter, measuring 65 m x 60 m, was fenced off in order to protect it from continued farming since the most recent structures are just 20 cm below surface (there are, however, equally interesting structures outside the fence. The extremely well-built walls of ashlar blocks distinguish this quarter from CQ1, CQ2, and CQ3, which are of industrial and domestic character. Here, we found a bathroom coated with ashlar blocks (both the walls and the floor) demonstrating an advanced hydro-technical construction: there is a water inlet at the base of the southern wall which is built of ashlar blocks. Opposite is a drain also built of ashlar blocks. The floor, which slopes towards the drain, is partly paved by ashlar blocks together with a thick layer of plaster. Outside the room (to the south of the inlet) is a water channel most likely leading upwards to a well surrounded by walls. The presence of a well could not yet be verified but the magnetometer map suggests a large "pit" (to be excavated in 2019). To the north of the bathroom is a corridor, at least 20 m long and three metres wide, which contained numerous pithoi and smaller vessels. This corridor represents a storage area for mainly liquids such as water, wine and olive oil. The storage corridor could be reached from the north via steps built of ashlar blocks. In front of the steps was a double gate, which is indicated by two door sockets. Just to the east of the gate is a stone installation with a thick layer of crushed murex shells (Hexaplex trunculus). So far, the expedition could expose only Stratum 1 in a limited area. Nevertheless, burned mudbrick and ash confirmed earlier observations from CQ1-3 that this phase ended in a violent destruction after which the city was abandoned, never to be occupied again. In summary: the extension of the compounds and the nature of the stone structures give the impression of an administrative building, maybe a palace or temple, where necessities were stored. The date of the most recent part of the compound is LC IIIA / 12th century BC.

Fig3 Mycaenean vessels 


Area A

One of numerous magnetic anomalies, which indicated "pits", was exposed. It was shown to represent a rich tomb (Tomb RR). The tomb has the shape of a recumbent "8" and contained 13 skeletons. Finds include plenty of local wares and numerous imports from the Aegean, the Levant and Egypt. Local wares are represented by various vessels of White Slip II (mature), Base-ring I and II and Plain White wheel-made wares. The Late Helladic and Minoan imports comprise pirifrom jars, alabaster, a feeding bottle and juglets. Amongst the most spectacular finds from this season is a complete, very large, chariot krater depicting two chariots drawn by two pairs of horses and 10 individuals. Egyptian imports include a faience bowl and an alabaster juglet. One of the female skeletons was buried with two pierced ivory discs of which one is incised with a pattern of petals. The ivory disks were part of her dress and were found close to her hips. The tomb is dated to LC IIA-C / LH IIIA-B.

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Dickelbers License: CC-BY-SA 

 

Tornos
  1. 26/03 23:51

    St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ

  2. 26/03 21:59

    PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination

  3. 26/03 17:56

    Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros

  4. 26/03 11:45

    Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council

  5. 23/03 17:43

    New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31

  6. 23/03 16:49

    Athenians continue to head out of the Greek Capital for March 25 long weekend

  7. 23/03 16:47

    Greek Parliament lights to be turned off for Earth Hour 8:30-9:30 pm

  8. 22/03 21:54

    US President on Greek Independence Day: Alliance with Greece stronger than ever

  9. 22/03 19:51

    High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece

  10. 22/03 19:32

    Tax authorities enable payments with foreign bank cards in Greece

  11. 22/03 14:19

    Greece to take part in Earth Hour on Saturday

  12. 22/03 00:24

    Greece ranks first on list of countries with fastest business environment progress

  13. 22/03 00:02

    Hellenic Police acquires first electric VAN-type highway patrol vehicle

  14. 21/03 22:41

    Greek Finance Ministry tightens Golden Visa rules

  15. 21/03 15:33

    Unseen Museum presents "The stele of the twin babies" exhibition in Athens

  16. 20/03 22:48

    Health Minister: 95% of Greek hospitals to perform afternoon surgeries

  17. 20/03 21:52

    Greek Deputy Minister of Justice meets delegation from US Embassy in Athens

  18. 20/03 21:44

    Greek Interior Minister to visit United States and Canada on postal vote

  19. 20/03 20:55

    Philadelphia Icarians mark 85th Anniversary and organize Apokriatiko Dance

  20. 20/03 18:01

    Development Minister: We continue the battle against high prices in Greece

  21. 19/03 22:28

    President of the Hellenic Republic meets her Ethiopian counterpart in Athens

  22. 19/03 20:57

    Greek Tourism Minιster meets Hellenic Chamber of Hotels

  23. 19/03 20:25

    FinMIn: Moody’s analysis records significant progress in the Greek economy

  24. 19/03 11:15

    Sector chiefs report: Good news for Greek tourism in 2024 at ITB Berlin

  25. 18/03 22:20

    American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association honors Past Supreme President

  26. 16/03 13:01

    Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens

  27. 16/03 12:56

    Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto

  28. 16/03 11:28

    Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres

  29. 15/03 21:50

    Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania

  30. 15/03 13:45

    PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece

  31. 15/03 12:55

    Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation

  32. 14/03 23:43

    President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava

  33. 14/03 22:58

    American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024

  34. 14/03 22:52

    Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures

  35. 14/03 22:49

    US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki

  36. 14/03 22:43

    Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos

  37. 14/03 19:32

    No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time

  38. 14/03 18:36

    Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday

  39. 14/03 14:48

    HRADF eyes bidders for Lavrio Port majority share

  40. 14/03 12:54

    Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May

  41. 13/03 22:23

    Chairman: 2023 was an exceptional one for AEGEAN Airlines

  42. 13/03 20:11

    Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece

  43. 13/03 19:15

    US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis

  44. 13/03 17:19

    Greece shines at 1st European Cruise Exhibition

  45. 13/03 12:26

    Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony

  46. 12/03 22:46

    Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’

  47. 12/03 21:38

    The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15

  48. 12/03 20:29

    First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki

  49. 11/03 23:58

    Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective

  50. 11/03 23:47

    Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March

  51. 11/03 19:40

    Amadeus acquires travel payments expert Voxel

  52. 11/03 18:49

    Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport

  53. 11/03 17:53

    Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece

  54. 09/03 22:23

    The future of travel planning is multimodal and interactive

  55. 08/03 14:27

    Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth

  56. 08/03 14:24

    Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests

  57. 08/03 14:24

    Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February

  58. 08/03 13:18

    Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday

  59. 07/03 14:12

    Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe

  60. 06/03 22:51

    WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals

  61. 06/03 20:28

    Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector

  62. 06/03 19:47

    Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday

  63. 06/03 18:43

    European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece

  64. 06/03 16:37

    'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved

  65. 06/03 14:40

    Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'

  66. 05/03 14:28

    Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida

  67. 05/03 14:21

    The 'Lent Basket' to be launched in Greece on March 13

  68. 05/03 14:11

    ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023

  69. 05/03 12:24

    Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'

  70. 04/03 22:02

    Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly

  71. 04/03 21:47

    Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary

  72. 04/03 20:27

    Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025

  73. 04/03 19:44

    Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday

  74. 04/03 15:12

    Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background

  75. 29/02 22:54

    Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday

  76. 29/02 21:44

    Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation

  77. 29/02 21:30

    Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points

  78. 29/02 21:03

    Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system

  79. 29/02 21:02

    Greek Tourism Minister meets with Ambassador of Qatar

  80. 29/02 20:47

    Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition

  81. 29/02 19:58

    Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals

  82. 29/02 19:49

    Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF

  83. 29/02 15:39

    'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament

  84. 29/02 12:39

    Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds

  85. 28/02 21:34

    Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night

  86. 28/02 17:31

    CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe

  87. 28/02 17:04

    New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe

  88. 28/02 12:21

    Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024

  89. 28/02 11:57

    24-hour strikes halt trains and ferries in Greece

  90. 27/02 17:25

    UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists

  91. 27/02 15:00

    Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive

  92. 27/02 14:26

    Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world

  93. 27/02 13:15

    Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1

  94. 27/02 12:46

    Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion

  95. 26/02 18:30

    Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April

  96. 26/02 18:27

    Culture Ministry: Schwartz Mansion in Ampelakia near Larisa to get new lighting

  97. 26/02 17:25

    Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion

  98. 26/02 16:33

    Trapped rack-railway passengers returned safely to Diakopto in Peloponnese

  99. 26/02 16:21

    Public transport, ferry and taxi strikes in Athens on Wednesday

  100. 25/02 12:30

    Greek island of Ikaria among the Blue Zones for Health Eating and Longevity