Bronze Age Tombs and Quarries Rediscovered in Cyprus Military Base

A team of archaeologists from the University of Leicester Archaeological Services found over forty ancient sites in the Dhekelia Sovereign base in Cyprus. These sites were lost over time but have now been rediscovered.

The survey was approved by Cyprus’ Department of Antiquities and backed by the Ministry of Defence. Its goal was to relocate sites that were first documented in the 1960s but got lost due to development and poor mapping, as reported by Archaeology Mag.

The rediscovery of these sites gives new insights into the island’s ancient culture, possibly reaching as far back as the Bronze Age. The team carefully surveyed the Eastern Sovereign Base Area (ESBA) at Dhekelia, aiming to find sites that were documented in the 1960s but were lost over time due to development.

Ancient quarries and tombs from the Bronze Age

Matt Beamish led the survey, employing Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to methodically document visible archaeological findings.

By conducting ground inspections and using GPS devices, the team pinpointed 51 sites. These sites include ancient quarries and tombs dating from the Bronze Age to the Byzantine period.

Moreover, the team found coastal quarries and vast rock-cut tombs, some of which had signs of looting and misuse. Although they encountered difficulties like incomplete archive data and previous development, the survey successfully pinpointed significant historical sites.

Matt Beamish stated, “Our GIS and survey methods had worked well when used for a similar survey of the Akrotiri peninsula in 2019. Many of the sites we were planning to survey had been last visited over 20 years ago, and in many instances had been reported as no longer existing or being unfindable.”

A tomb being used for caging cats

In one section of the inland plateau, there were extensive rock-cut tombs spread across several hectares.

However, most of these tombs were in bad condition, with some clearly showing signs of looting, indicated by nearby mounds of earth. Many tombs had become dumping grounds for waste.

Moreover, one tomb, which was part of a large cemetery near a monastery west of Xylotymbou village, was being used to confine cats, according to the University of Leicester.

Cyprus, positioned along Mediterranean sea routes, boasts a diverse cultural heritage. It’s renowned for preserving numerous archaeological sites spanning from the Bronze Age to the Roman and Byzantine periods.

In the western part of the Dhekelia area, this rich history is evident in a significant archaeological landscape.

There is also a large Bronze Age fortified settlement at Kokkinokremnos and an adjacent Iron Age hillfort at Vikla, according to a news article from the University of Leicester.