CIU is continuing to shed light on to the historical archaeology of Cyprus

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Şevketoğlu, Director of “Center for Archaeology, Cultural Heritage and Conservation” of Cyprus International University (CIU) and the Head of the “Tatlısu/Akanthou Rescue Excavations” attended an international event where she gave information about the works carried out firstly on “Preservation of the Archaeological Environment: Akanthou/Tatlısu Excavacation” and secondly on the Archaeopark open air museum project planned to be built near Tatlısu Çiftlikdüzü.

The event was organized online by the Center, and the participants were briefed on the archaeological works carried out in the Tatlısu region  on the northern shoreline of Cyprus as well as the rescue excavations and underwater research conducted in Tatlısu- Çiftlikdüzü (Akanthou-Arkosykos), Esentepe- Ağırsu and Tatlısu-Karaburun. 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Şevketoğlu stated that the Pre-Pottery Neolithic settlement dating from 8300-7700  BC was unearthed as part of the land surveys and the finds like obsidian blades and sharp tools revealed the connection between Anatolia and Cyprus. Chemical analyses have shown that the obsidian raw material originated from Central and Eastern Anatolia. While this connection indicates the existence of some trade  between Anatolia and Cyprus, it also shows that Tatlısu-Çiftlikdüzü was the entry point of these tools.

Within the scope of the land excavations, Agios Georgios/Michael is another area where early ages are studied. Şevketoğlu said dwarf hippopotamus fossils are examined here. She also talked about the underwater research that had started in  2018 in the Tatlısu area.

Thanks to recent research conducted in the area, bays like Tatlısu-Karaburun and Tatlısu -Aphrodision rich in underwater cıltural assets  have been found. In addition to these, Şevketoğlu pointed out that they also identified remains of damaged sunken ships dating from the Roman period.

Şevketoğlu continued by emphasizing that Tatlısu is a region bearing special significance  in all ages in terms of land and underwater riches. Thanks to all the archaeological research carried out since 2019, 60 hectares of land has been included in the protected area category including the areas where the research is conducted.

Şevketoğlu noted that in addition to the archaeological studies, experimental archaeological studies are also carried out . In 2019, UNDP financed project in Tatlısu- Çiftlikdüzü helped replicate the dome shaped houses found in the region.

To conclude, Şevketoğlu said the Archaeopark which will house the museum and Neolithic village will help explicate correctly the archaeology of Cyprus and also help understand archaeology as a science. She also said they will be offering educational programs to raise awareness on cultural heritage issues.