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The appearance of man to the island of Cyprus is recorded
from the tenth century BC proof of this can be seen from the site of Akrotiri-Aetokremos which can be found near the town of Limassol. There was a
long period where nothing was known, then around 7000 BC village communities
began to prosper on the island. The inhabitants practiced agriculture and
animal husbandry, exploiting domesticated species of plants and animals whose
wild ancestors were unknown on the island.
This civilization, the aceramic Neolithic, so called
because ceramic technology was unknown on the island, is represented by the
ancient sites of Khirokitia and twenty other settlements scattered throughout
the island.
From cape Andreas-Kastros in the extreme east tip of the
island to Kholetria-Ortos in the west, from Troulli (Kyrenia region) and Petra
tour Limniti in the north to Kalavasos Tenta and Shillourokambos. Khirokitia,
in the south and includes the inland sites of Dhail-Agridhi and Kataliondas.
These are all sites that have been explored archaeologically.
The site of Khirokitia was discovered in 1934 by P. Dikaios
who conducted six campaigns there between 1936 and 1946. Later exploration did
not resume till the 1970's in 1972 to be exact. In 1976 further work was
carried out.
Khirokitia or Chirokitia is one of the most important
prehistoric sites of the Eastern Mediterranean area. The site is only partially
uncovered and work is still going on. It has been designated a world heritage
site
http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/choirokoitia.html. Findings show
that there were about 300 inhabitants and that they did not live longer that the
age of 35. One of their customs was to bury their dead under the house to keep
them close to the living.
There is much research to be found on the internet about
the Neolitic sites of Cyprus
LEMBA ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTRE, CYPRUS offers courses at the Lemba
Archaeological Research Centre located in Lemba Village approximately 4 km north
of the town of Pafos
Recent excavations at Lemba
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/bmcr/2005/2005-09-83.html
A Geophysical Campaign at the Neolithic Settlement of Kandou - Kouphovounos
(Cyprus).
Excavations at Kalavasos-Kokkinoyia and Kalavasos-Pamboules, Cyprus
There is currently excavation being conducted at the Neolithic settlement of
Kalavasos-Kokkinoyia, Cyprus by the University of East Anglia
More
will be added later……
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