The end of the third excavation period at the Kouklia-Marcello site by the Department of History and Archeology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA), announced the Department of Antiquities of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, stating that the excavation allowed, for the first time, the documentation of the stratigraphy of foundation of the wall.
According to an official announcement, the excavation was directed by the Associate Professor of Archeology Constantinos Kopanias. The excavation team consisted of 17 undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students and was carried out with funding from the Greek National Academy of Sciences.
At the Kouklia-Marcello site, a series of investigations have been carried out by the British (1950-55) and the German-Swiss Mission (1966-73, 1985, 1992-95), as well as more recently by the University of Cyprus (2006-08). The earlier investigations brought to light part of a monumental wall, with a total length of 168 meters, but without completing its excavation. The dating of the individual building phases of the wall, as well as its overall interpretation, remain unclear.
During the excavation period of 2023 a small incision was made inside the wall. The excavation allowed, for the first time, the documentation of the stratigraphy of its foundation.
Specifically, as mentioned, the preliminary study of the ceramics indicates that the earliest construction phase of the wall belongs to the Late Cypriot III period (13th century BC). At the end of this period the wall fell into disuse and some of its superstructure stones were used to build another wall a few meters further north. This particular wall was probably an enclosure, as it was roughly built and has been exposed to a considerable length. At the same time, a currently enigmatic structure was built, which appears to be in the shape of the letter "P" and faces the sea. A total of three different building phases have been recognized for this structure, which appears to have been in use for quite a long time.
It is added that of special interest is the fact that on two stones of this construction two ships were depicted schematically, which are very similar to the representations of ships of the Late Cypriot III period in Kitio. The preliminary study of the ceramics shows that probably the enclosure and the specific construction date to the Late Cypriot III period (12th-11th centuries BC). However, the completion of the pottery study is awaited to confirm the dating.
The analysis of the stratigraphy shows, according to the announcement, that during the Cypriot-Geometric period there was no significant use of the site. At the end of the Cypriot-Archaic or the beginning of the Cypriot-Classic period (late 6th/early 5th century BC) a trench (tunnel) was opened under the wall in a north-south direction. Excavations by F. Maier brought to light similar tunnels in various parts of the wall. According to the interpretation of F. Maier and the older excavators, the tunnels were opened during the siege of (Old) Paphos by the Persians. The excavation findings of 2022 and 2023 do not seem to confirm this theory, at least in the case of the new tunnel, however the absence of findings does not yet allow a safe interpretation of the construction.
The EKPA research is being carried out in collaboration with the existing Palepafos Urban Landscape Research Program of the University of Cyprus, directed by Professor M. Iacovou. The close cooperation of the two research groups contributes to the investigation, study and scientific promotion of the archaeological wealth of the Palaipafos region, the announcement points out.
The fourth annual mission of EKPA will take place within 2024.
Source: KYPE