New Bronze Age finds by excavations at Agios Sozomenos of Cyprus in 2019

The 7th excavation season, conducted from the 2nd of September to the 4th October 2019, under the direction of Dr. D. Pilides, Curator of Antiquities, Department of Antiquities, aimed at clarifying the architectural plan of the fortress at Nikolides and investigating further the complex of buildings at Djirpoulos. Excavation at both sites was held intermittently as Nikolides is out of reach on certain days when exercises are held by the National Guard.
This year's attention was focused on the access leading to the tower, by extending the excavation area, to investigate whether the staircase of ashlar stones and the platform of ashlars running parallel to it were preserved further to the south. The platform was made of large ashlars of approximately 1x0,5m although they vary in size. The staircase was not preserved any further but it was clear that the steps led to the top of the tower; only some of them are preserved as well as the lower substructure of stones that supported the staircase. On the east side, the plaster floor, made above bedrock was traced. A channel, running from east to west direction (downslope) was made in the floor, its sides smoothed and bridged at two points with flat stones. Another two channels were found running parallel to this one on the north and south, unfortunately not very well preserved. These were also bridged over by the plaster floor at some points and may have functioned as drainage channels. On the west side of the area, a cavity, roughly rectangular, with a square ashlar stone (0,42x0,40x0,18m) in the middle was revealed and close to it, on the south, a circular hearth was found lined with clay and heavily burnt. Two Plain White sherds were found with traces of a reddish substance on the interior.
As already noted last year, it is clear that the fortress was reconstructed at some point to add the formidable ashlar tower onto the existing circuit wall. The old wall was built of smaller sized zones, placed alternately with flat worked stones, while the new wall added to support the tower was made of large unworked stones, filled in with smaller ones and its faces dressed with ashlars. We tried to investigate how the old wall joined the new part on the east side, as the two were not on the same axis; normally there should have been a joint, possibly at an angle to each other. Unfortunately, in this exact spot, a large crevice was bulldozed out, causing a serious disturbance that did not allow us to determine this issue. In fact, the damage was so great that the wall was denuded of its structure down to bedrock and a huge collapse of large stones was scattered around it and down the slope. As in previous excavation seasons on the fortress, there is a total lack of finds and only small fragments of ceramics, mainly from small vessels that occur. It is to be noted, however, that a bronze arrowhead was found on the surface after the winter rains, outside the excavated area.
Although the damage to the monument proved to be quite disruptive, the architecture and design of the fort are particularly impressive. It is evident that monumentality was a consideration but not the only factor for its construction, as it was further strengthened and embellished, meaning that defense was clearly another fundamental consideration at the time. In addition, both the plan, construction and additions indicate considerable awareness of military tactics and warfare. Given the scarcity of other such structures in Cyprus, one wonders first whether it could be the product of local expertise or an adaptation of a foreign prototype and second, but obviously not any less significant, who was the enemy? These are issues that need to be further investigated both by continued excavation in search for more evidence and, in combination with the results from the recent excavations at the Barsak fortress nearby as well as the settlement remains at Djirpoulos and Ampelia.
Excavation plan of Agios Sozomenos Photo: Cyprus Department of Antiquities
On the days when the fort on the plateau at Nikolides was inaccessible due to shooting exercises, excavation continued at Djirpoulos. The first aim was to complete the plan of the building on the NW and SE sides and slowly establish in the long run, whether there was a single complex or separate buildings. A new wall (802) parallel to 403 was located on the NW side forming a small room or corridor where a clay lekane, a pithos, a large storage jar and charcoal were found. Further excavation in this area revealed the continuation of wall 403. This wall continues to the NE (401) and turns at 90 degrees (400) to form an interior space. Wall 403 is interrupted by the Medieval irrigation channel which continues from NW to SE, already found in 2016. The channel was lined with gypsum and blocked with an upstanding stone on the eastern side. As the gypsum flooring was not preserved intact, further excavation below revealed the remains of the ancient wall, while wall 802 was also affected by the construction of the channel. On the south of the Medieval channel, the floor of plaster was preserved with a flat stone in situ, possibly used as a grinding surface as well as a sling stone. On the north side of Wall 802, a clay hearth was located, roughly circular, around which burnt cooking ware, an upturned lekane, pithos fragments and a stone grinder were found as well as ashes and charcoal. Most interestingly, a small copper nodule with silver plating preserved on its surface was also found in the water sieved contents of the soil sample from the hearth.
A long wall (811), most probably the extension of Wall 203, was located, thus joining this year's excavation to the rest of the building found in 2016. A floor of compact earth was revealed on the north side of Wall 811 with traces of fire. Charcoal, a small piece of slag and a fragmentary wall bracket indicate perhaps both domestic and workshop activities. This floor possibly dates to phase 2. On the south side of Wall 811 large storage jar and pithos sherds with wavy ridges, fragments of cooking jars and basins were noted and on the floor, which was only partially preserved, a flat circular ceramic object, possibly a slow wheel was found.
Walls 803 and 804, parallel to each other, possibly repeat the architectural plan of the building found in 2016 with long narrow rooms or corridors on the NW part of the building. The upper layer, below the thick deposit of greenish clay representing erosion and abandonment, consisted of compact earth mixed with plaster, possibly the collapse of the roof and/walls. Below, a layer of stones, possibly represents the collapse of the lower part of the walls and on their removal, a floor of plaster was revealed extending towards the stone channel noted in 2016. The plaster floor belongs to the earlier phase of the building as the wall built on top (803) indicates. Two new walls forming the corner of an interior space (814, 815) possibly also belonging to the older phase were found in the space between 803 and 804. On the south side of these walls, stone grinders, large sherds of pithos, cooking ware fragments and charcoal were retrieved. Some White Slip I sherds and small fragments of Mycenaean vessels were found above the plaster floor. Close to the stone channel a small irregular cavity in the floor contained ochre, some small animal bones and fragments of White Slip bowls. On the exterior of wall 804, below the thick greenish erosion deposit, some reddish clay and unfired ceramic fragments confirm the function of the buildings as workshops and domestic installations, as already noted in 2016.
It would be interesting to see whether the new part of the building appearing in the NW actually followed the plan of the older phase, as was the case in the SE part of the building and to also see whether we have two similar joining complexes with a similar function.
- 1) Media report: Neanderthals reached Greek island of Naxos 200,000 years ago
- 2) Media: British Museum offers Greece only loan of stolen Parthenon Marbles
- 3) Italy returns Parthenon Marble fragment to Greece setting precedent
- 4) Nobel Foundation returns to Greece Mycenaean gold ring from necropolis in Rhodes
26/05 23:58
Onassis’ island of Skorpios in Greece turns into European resort for billionaires
26/05 22:48
Firefighters from six European countries to be deployed to Greece this year
26/05 20:43
Tourism Minister attends sports hotel inauguration at Greek island of Limnos
26/05 17:06
4,048 new Covid-19 cases and 13 fatalities recorded in Greece on Thursday
26/05 14:54
Minister: National Strategic Extroversion Plan brings growth in Greece
26/05 00:15
Greek PM talks with Microsoft, Google and Meta executives at Davos Forum
26/05 00:10
Media: British Museum offers Greece only loan of stolen Parthenon Marbles
26/05 00:02
IATA and ICP join forces to promote air cargo security in the UAE
25/05 21:46
Face masks mandate lifted in Greek schools and universities as of June 1
25/05 21:32
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili delivers message on Africa Day 2022 (video)
25/05 20:13
United States Ambassador to Athens visits Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki
25/05 19:23
4,141 new Covid-19 cases and 17 fatalities recorded in Greece on Wednesday
25/05 18:57
18th Athens Digital Arts Festival takes place at Kotzia Square on May 25-29
25/05 18:18
UNWTO: World Commitee on Tourism Ethics issues statement on war in Ukraine
25/05 13:53
Greek Tourism Minister urges Emirates to add direct flights from Thessaloniki to NY and Dubai
25/05 10:08
25/05 09:26
Cyprus aims at more than two million tourist arrivals this year
25/05 00:10
US ambassador to Athens: Greece can expand its role as an energy hub
24/05 23:17
Greek PM meets with investors at the World Economic Forum at Davos
24/05 22:56
Athens and Izmir mayors meet in Greek capital as part of city diplomacy
24/05 21:48
IATA: Canadian government must reduce delays at local airports
24/05 21:37
Greece includes new €1.7 billion projects to Recovery & Resilience Fund
24/05 20:59
UNWTO: International code informs efforts to promote tourist confidence in Americas
24/05 20:22
Delta Airlines offers more travel options between the US and Greek islands
24/05 19:44
Filming to begin in Greek city of Thessaloniki on film starring Robert De Niro
24/05 19:13
Underwater Museum in Greek island of Alonissos is “the Parthenon of Shipwrecks”
24/05 18:05
24/05 17:02
5,588 new Covid-19 cases and 11 fatalities recorded in Greece on Tuesday
23/05 19:05
23/05 18:57
Greek Prime Minister to address 146th Boston College graduation ceremony
23/05 18:54
No monkeypox virus in lab examination of suspected case sample in Greece
23/05 18:42
Europe Union Commission approves disbursement of €748 million to Greece
23/05 18:38
Delphi AHEPA Chapter 25 organizes backgammon event at New York Athletic Club
23/05 17:49
EC greenlights €890,000 to support Cypriot halloumi producers
23/05 17:45
2,235 new Covid-19 cases and 21 fatalities recorded in Greece on Monday
23/05 16:34
Greek National Tourism Organisation chief at World Economic Forum in Davos
21/05 21:36
George Papaeleas AHEPA Chapter 367 marks AHEPA Sunday in New York
21/05 17:38
3,424 Covid-19 cases and 21 fatalities recorded in Greece on Friday
21/05 15:41
Foreign Ministers discuss close coordination between Greece and Cyprus
21/05 12:32
Minister: Greece has entered dynamically the international academic map
21/05 11:47
European Commission: Greece plays key role for independence from Russian gas
20/05 22:31
Boxing champion Alvarez strolling around in Greek island of Mykonos (video)
20/05 21:12
Events in Athens to present theater, literature, and music of Israel to public
20/05 21:01
SNF cancels Greek Culture Ministry grant for ancient mass graves museum in Faliro
20/05 19:58
World Tourism Organization members in the Americas advance common goals
20/05 19:18
UNWTO enjoys high-level meetings with American tourism sector leaders
20/05 18:25
Italy returns Parthenon Marble fragment to Greece setting precedent
20/05 17:51
Greek Tourism Minister continues meetings in Serbian capital of Belgrade
20/05 17:08
3,708 Covid-19 cases and 16 fatalities recorded in Greece on Friday
20/05 14:28
Greek PM announces allocation of €171 million to support organic livestock farming
20/05 12:21
Nobel Foundation returns to Greece Mycenaean gold ring from necropolis in Rhodes
20/05 00:27
19/05 22:34
Archbishop of America announces the Centennial Pilgrimage to Pontos
19/05 19:24
Minister: Joist Innovation Park another step in Greece's turning into innovation hub
19/05 18:29
3,928 Covid-19 cases and 23 fatalities recorded in Greece on Thursday
19/05 17:33
Return of Parthenon Marbles to Greece discussed at UNESCO meeting in Paris
19/05 16:37
The President of Hellenic Republic continues her official visit to Vietnam
19/05 15:43
AEGEAN airways will operate twice-weekly flights between Athens and Eindhoven
19/05 14:52
Greek Tourism Minister: 900,000 visitors from Serbia expected in Greece this year
18/05 22:44
Athens British Embassy virtual event on Asia Minor Catastrophe available to view
18/05 22:11
18/05 20:06
Covid-19 mandatory masks scrapped indoors and outdoors in Greece from June 1st
18/05 20:02
10th Syros International Film Festival to take place on July 28-31
18/05 19:10
Survey: Most Americans still plan to visit Europe this year despite war in Ukraine
18/05 18:23
Greece records 4,626 Covid-19 cases and 19 fatalities on Wednesday
18/05 17:48
Ukrainian refugees in Athens can board public transport for free for 90 days
18/05 17:15
Media report: Greek PM praises Diaspora during US Congress speech (video)
18/05 15:51
Greek PM is honored by community and honors Greek-Americans in turn
18/05 13:40
Greek-US strategic cooperation dominate Dendias-Blinken meeting in DC
18/05 00:34
17/05 23:04
Greek PM delivers historic address at joint session of US Congress (video)
17/05 21:16
Biden and Mitsotakis deliver common statements at the White House (video)
17/05 21:14
Jewish inscriptions exhibition opens in two museums of Greece
17/05 20:32
World Tourism Organization launches digital futures program for SMEs
17/05 19:27
International Air Transport Association urges to accelerate Asia-Pacific sector recovery
17/05 19:01
Greek islands of Crete, Zakynthos and Kos favorite for Dutch summer 2022
17/05 17:22
6,252 Covid-19 cases and 21 fatalities recorded in Greece on Tuesday
17/05 16:38
17/05 15:41
17/05 15:35
Almost 9,000 temporary asylum permits issued to Ukrainians in April 2022
17/05 13:30
Wallpaper magazine lauds Tinos, Mykonos, Paros and Santorini as ideal destinations for wine tourism
16/05 23:52
Media report: Spike in demand for Greece-Turkey ferry services
16/05 23:24
Greek Prime Miniser meets US President at the White House (video)
16/05 22:40
16/05 22:04
Horror of Ukraine War seen in outdoor photo exhibition in the center of Athens
16/05 20:18
President of Hellenic Republic welcomed by Vietnamese counterpart in Hanoi
16/05 19:58
Greece records 3,066 Covid-19 cases and 24 fatalities in Greece on Monday
16/05 19:32
Greek Tourism Minister meets with 7 ambassadors about Greece's travel market
16/05 18:47
Passenger traffic in Greek airports soared 383% during the first four months of 2022
16/05 18:14
16/05 17:09
PM: US tourists to arrive on a record number of direct flights to Greece (video)
14/05 21:38
14/05 18:50
Greece records 4,324 Covid-19 cases and 15 fatalities on Saturday
14/05 15:08
Elon Musk’s fast Starlink Internet satellite service comes to Greece
14/05 11:01
Bahrain to enhance bilateral relations in tourism with Greece
13/05 22:41
Local government digital transformation programme unveiled in Greece
13/05 22:22
NATO fighter jet planes and helicopters flew over the Athens Acropolis
13/05 22:10
The Hellenic Initiative launches "Plant a Tree" initiative in Greece
13/05 21:57
13/05 21:56
Greece to host Odesa Classics International Music Festival from June 9-13
Firefighters from six European countries to be deployed to Greece this year
Greek PM talks with Microsoft, Google and Meta executives at Davos Forum
Media: British Museum offers Greece only loan of stolen Parthenon Marbles
Onassis’ island of Skorpios in Greece turns into European resort for billionaires
Minister: National Strategic Extroversion Plan brings growth in Greece
4,048 new Covid-19 cases and 13 fatalities recorded in Greece on Thursday
Cook’s Club opens latest hotel in the heart of Greek island of Rhodes
Young Cretan man’s quest to tour the world on 26-foot sailboat (video)
Houston’s AHEPA 29 Educational Foundation bestows 41 scholarships for 2019
Fire near national highway at Lykovrisi bridge near Athens partially under control
Tourism Minister attends sports hotel inauguration at Greek island of Limnos
World’s top Librarian conference comes to Athens between August 24-30
Greek NGO wins world’s largest humanitarian prize by Hilton Foundation
Greek Ministry of Culture reiterates legal claim to artifact vs. Sotheby’s in NY
48th Book Festival at Zappeion Hall between August 30 and September 15
Buenos Aires joins World Tourism Organization network of Tourism Observatories
Merkel: New opportunities for German businesses to invest in Greece
Municipality of Athens records surplus for eight years in a row
Greek government: Higher collection rate for property tax offsets revenue loss
Greek PM receives head of US House Appropriations Committe Nita Lowey
Minister: Two more joint cabinet decisions this week for Helleniko project
Guinness World Record holder from Greece launches new lodging app
New Athens mayor Kostas Bakoyannis visits Paris to observe city's sanitation methods
Greek coast guard intervened in 208 incidents with 5,608 foreign nationals in July