Archaeologists have uncovered the first direct evidence of ancient clay preparation in Cyprus at a Byzantine pottery workshop, finding a basin used to process material for making ceramics. The discovery at Menogeia-Limnes, in the Larnaca district, sheds light on a production step that had not previously been documented at the island’s workshops from historical times.
The stone-built basin was constructed directly on natural bedrock. Inside, excavators found alternating layers of clean clay and sifted soil. A channel made from two parallel rows of upright stones brought water to the basin, pointing to an organized workspace rather than an isolated feature.
Five new excavation trenches also exposed work and storage areas. Researchers uncovered a pile of kneaded clay, a large storage jar still in place, pieces of pottery wheels and numerous discarded ceramic fragments. The finds provide a fuller picture of the workshop’s operations.
Ancient clay preparation in Cyprus linked to long-running workshop
Pottery recovered from the trenches points to three periods of activity: the late fourth to fifth centuries, the sixth to mid-seventh centuries, and the late seventh to mid-eighth centuries. The range of finds suggests the workshop operated over several phases during the Byzantine era.
The excavations took place from June 15 to July 24, 2026, as part of the University of Cyprus project “Settled and Sacred Landscapes of Cyprus.” The third field season was directed by Athanasios Vionis, an associate professor of Byzantine archaeology and art, and Doria Nicolaou.
The Department of Antiquities announced the results on Monday. At another site examined by the same team, Kofinou-Agios Herakleios, archaeologists found evidence of successive churches and long-term burial use. Those findings also shed light on the eighth through 10th centuries, a period poorly represented in Cyprus’ archaeological record.
Church ruins reveal centuries of worship and burial
At Kofinou, researchers exposed almost the entire floor of a church, paved with large gypsum slabs. Iron nails suggest a wooden screen once stood before the sanctuary. Curved stones and supporting pillars confirmed the building had a dome, dating to the eighth through 10th centuries.
Other finds included fragments of wall paintings with red and green bands, glass lamps and a round floor slab with a spiral design. The church was abandoned around the mid-14th century. Hearths, cooking vessels and animal bones show the ruins were later used for purposes unrelated to worship.
The complex went through four phases, beginning with a basilica from the late sixth or early seventh century and ending with a chapel built after the 16th century. The department said the cemetery is Cyprus’ first documented organized burial ground used continuously from the sixth to the 16th century.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
