A joint archaeological mission during excavations on the southeast coast of Cyprus discovered an unknown fortification dating from the early Hellenistic period.
The local edition of In-Cyprus spoke about the discovery. It was completed by a team of archaeologists led by Dr. Brandon R. Olson of Denver State University, Dr. Tom Landwatter of Reed College and Dr. R. Scott Moore of the University of Pennsylvania.
Excavations were carried out in an archaeological park near the village of Pyla. A previously unknown well-fortified settlement was discovered there. It was built on a steep hill with a view of Larnaca Bay and the coastal road connecting Kition and Salamis.
A joint archaeological mission during excavations on the southeast coast of Cyprus discovered an unknown fortification dating from the early Hellenistic period.
The local edition of In-Cyprus spoke about the discovery. It was completed by a team of archaeologists led by Dr. Brandon R. Olson of Denver State University, Dr. Tom Landwatter of Reed College and Dr. R. Scott Moore of the University of Pennsylvania.
Excavations were carried out in an archaeological park near the village of Pyla. A previously unknown well-fortified settlement was discovered there. It was built on a steep hill with a view of Larnaca Bay and the coastal road connecting Kition and Salamis.
Archaeologists unearthed fortifications built of stones and clay. The length of the northern wall has not yet been determined exactly, but it has already been established that its thickness could be five meters.
The southern wall of this fortification was erected on a slope. The fortress was well designed. It contained a large number of fortified places for the riflemen defending it.
In the fortress itself, a large number of artifacts were found, mainly fragments of Hellenistic ceramics, coins, as well as iron weapons and missiles, including lead “bullets” for a sling.
For these artifacts, as well as for the architectural style of the structure, dating was carried out. It showed that the fortress was erected in the late IV – early III centuries BC.
Just this time period is almost not studied and not documented in the historical annals of Cyprus. Perhaps the opening will fill this gap.
