Graduate European Archaeology Skills Exchange (GrEASE)

FULL-CYPRUS

Placement dates: Early October to Early December 2008

Number of places: 8

The 8-week long placement presents an exciting opportunity for up to 8 archaeology graduates from the UK to gain experience of archaeological excavation in Cyprus. The site is of an Early Christian Basilica. The participants will be hosted by the Akrotiri Environmental Centre and will join the excavation led by the Cyprus Department of Antiquities on the Akrotiri Peninsula. The period of the placement is arranged to benefit from the most suitable weather conditions for excavation in Cyprus, avoiding the summer heat. Students will stay in self-catering shared accommodation in Akrotiri village. Akrotiri is a short drive from Limassol. Flights and accommodation will be covered by the project funding. A self-catering allowance will also be provided.

Early Christian Basilica at Katalymmata ton Plakoton excavation Trenches showing wall arrangements and the disturbed floor mosaic
Some mosaics from the excavation in October-November 2007

Previous Fieldwork
In 2000 members of the Western Sovereign Base Area (WSBA) Archaeological group discovered some individual loose tesserae, supposedly from a mosaic floor, when walking in the Akrotiri peninsula. This find prompted further searching in the area and a small section of mosaic floor with a thin earth covering was uncovered. This mosaic was re-covered by the WSBA group and the potential site reported to the Department of Antiquities. Excavation of the site, Katalymmata ton Plakoton, did not begin until 2007 due to time and budget restraints. In October 2007 the excavation of the site began under the direction of Dr Eleni Procopiou from the Department of Antiquities. As well was employing a number of labourers, Dr Procopiou was assisted by a skilled technician from the Limassol museum, two PhD students from the University of Athens, a Department of Antiquities conservation team and ourselves (five archaeology graduate students). Prior to beginning the excavation it was believed by Dr Procopiou that the site was most likely an Early Christian Basilica.

Excavation in 2007

Prior to beginning the excavation it was believed that the area was the site of an Early Christian Basilica. This belief was upheld throughout the excavation with finds and mosaics supporting a date of around the 7th Century AD. No evidence of burning was found which suggests that the structure was destroyed prior to the Arab raids of the 7th Century AD. The mosaics uncovered have been described as the best to date in Cyprus. A total of sixteen different designs with origins across the whole of Cyprus were uncovered.

To Apply for the excavation in 2008-Click Here