Remains, ancient coins and clay objects of a different style from that of Cyprus, were found during the excavations carried out at the Monastery of Ayia Napa, in the context of the restoration, promotion and promotion.
According to the Cyprus News Agency, Metropolitan Constantia - Famagusta Vassilios, “since the establishment of the Diocese in 2007, it had been decided that the Monastery of Ayia Napa, which functioned as a Conference Center, should be used for the promotion of the monument and of our culture ”. The work of restoration, promotion and promotion of the Monastery began last year at the beginning of summer and for the preparation of the program they cooperate with the University of Berlin, the Freie Universitet.
He added that the specific University "conducts studies for the Monastery, ie history, archeology, architecture and everything else that the study may include, which extends to the surrounding areas. There will also be a historical and archaeological comparison of the building of Ayia Napa, with approximately similar buildings located in Palaipafos, Rhodes and the city of Biblo in Lebanon, while collecting information about the Monastery ".
He explained that with the beginning of the works in the Monastery, which are carried out under the supervision of the Department of Antiquities “it was a given that archeological findings would be located. The monastery is a building of the 14th or 15th century but the findings we find now are older. In fact, in several places it seems that the existing building was erected after older buildings were removed, after the foundations of an older building were seen, which we assume was destroyed by fire because there are some points of fire ".
The use of the space, he noted “was continuous, since we found a layer of the 13th, second layer of the 14th century and so on, thus reaching the beginning of the 20th century, while there is a photo in which it seems that there are stables in the space. The excavations have reached the rock, that is, the 13th - 14th century and the findings that have been found until today, give us new data to study again the history of the Monastery ".
The Metropolitan also said that he asked "archaeologists to continue the excavations at the Monastery to see if the site was a church", as he explained that "before the development of Ayia Napa the whole area was full of caves where monks and ascetics lived. I believe that there must be the main building of the Church, that is, the katholikon where the monks gathered to do the Sunday service and to communicate ".
At the site of the excavations, he said, “there seems to be a church located next to the Monastery on the site of the hostels. The excavations revealed very small cells of monks, a room plastered and other findings of continuous use were found, ie whole or fragments of clay objects of different eras, which lead us to the modern era ".
To a relevant question, Konstantias Vassilios answered that “the findings reach as far as Latin or the period before Latin. The clay pots and fragments that were found are considered very important for the study of history as they will answer the question when and for what purpose they were used ".
Asked whether ecclesiastical objects such as crosses have been found in the excavations, the Metropolitan answered in the negative and added that “at the entrance next to the one where we go down inside the church, relics have been found and this shows that from one point onwards, the area began to be used as a cemetery. The first find was the remains of three young people, up to 18 years old and in fact they were not buried normally, but were hurriedly buried like a mass grave ".
The strange thing continued, "is that these skeletons were found on top of other human remains of elderly people, including a woman, who were normally buried. The place may have been a burial place for monks, while we assume that the Monastery probably functioned as a women's one, since it seems that depending on the political and social conditions, it changed tenants and became sometimes male and sometimes female ".
He added that "a cross was found under the remains of a person, while amulets were found in the other two remains. These items are not gold, but were received by experts to make the necessary research to locate their construction material. What is impressive is that despite their hasty burial, the amulets were not removed from the corpses ".
He noted that "what archaeologists are now investigating is to determine the cause of death, ie whether they died of an infectious disease or if their death was violent. In the same way, a larger "mountain" was found, a mass grave and I asked the Department of Antiquities in collaboration with the Institute of Genetics to date the remains so that we can find out, among other things, the cause of their death "since, as he explained, it is certain that the relics belong to the period of Ottoman rule ".
Regarding the clay objects that were found, the Metropolitan said that “among them there were some clay objects which were imported from Mallorca and were found in these tombs. "Archaeologists know at what time these clay objects were introduced, which seem to have the bright colors used by the Chinese, since a strong blue color was found in them."
He also noted that “the strange thing about these objects is that Cyprus made clay pots and it seems that at that time there was a trade of clay objects, but not of this particular style. During the excavations, coins of different eras were also found, which will help in the study of the history of the area ".
To another question, the Metropolitan answered that “staff of the Freie Universitet of Berlin come and go in the area watching the excavations. The University will also undertake the preservation of the ancient objects that were found so that they can be exhibited later in the Museum that will take place ".
Regarding the financing of the excavations, he said that “it is done with state national resources, however, in order to have this funding, there had to be a public body and that is the Municipality of Ayia Napa. Normally the Municipality should give a percentage of about 20%, however Ayia Napa is not limited only to the financial contribution "he said and noted that" the services of the Municipality work constantly, the architect and other employees as well as workers cooperate with the Department of Antiquities and with the contractor, thus contributing in a practical way ”.
The Metropolitan thanked "the Mayor of Ayia Napa Giannis Karousos and all those who contribute in every way to the completion of the project, as our goal is to give Cypriots and foreign visitors an important part of our history and culture of Cyprus. We have to give culture, however, despite the fact that we are rich in culture, we are still unable to promote it ".
Source: KYPE
