UC Research Uncovers Late Bronze Age Fortress (Cyprus)

University of Cincinnati ^ | June 20, 2011 | Amanda Chalifoux Photos By: Colleen Kelley

[decimon]

The University of Cincinnati’s most recent research in Cyprus reveals the remnants of a Late Bronze Age (1500-750 B.C.) fortress that may have functioned to protect an important urban economic center in the ancient world.

A recent find by a University of Cincinnati archeologist suggests an ancient Cypriot city was well protected from outside threats.

That research, by UC’s Gisela Walberg, professor of classics, will be presented at the annual workshop of the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Center in Nicosia, Cyprus, on June 25, 2011.

Since 2001, Walberg has worked in modern Cyprus to uncover the ancient city of Bamboula, a Bronze Age city that was an important trading center for the Middle East, Egypt and Greece. Bamboula, a harbor town that flourished between the 13th through the 11th century B.C., sits along a highway on the outskirts of the modern village of Episkopi, along the southwestern coast of Cyprus and near the modern harbor town of Limassol. The area thrived in part because the overshadowing Troodos Mountains contained copper, and the river below was used to transport the mined materials.

Her most recent research at the site revealed the remnants of a Late Bronze Age (1500-750 B.C.) fortress that may have functioned to protect the urban economic center further inland, which does not seem to have been fortified.

[decimon]

Overview of the excavation site in what was the ancient city of Bamboula, a Bronze Age city that was an important trading center for the Middle East, Egypt and Greece.

[decimon]

Episkopal ping.

[beebuster2000]

bamboula ping

the name just rolls off the tongue.

[hellbender]

the staircase seems to have been broken in a violent catastrophe, which throws lights on the early Late Bronze Age history in Cyprus, a period of which little is known but characterized by major social upheaval and cemeteries containing what a number of scholars have identified as mass burials.

Cyprus is prone to earthquakes. Much of the island is composed of sea floor obducted (forced up) by the continuing collision of the African and Eurasian plates. That's why there are copper deposits.

[Ciexyz]

How quickly are the mighty fallen.

[Ciexyz]

bamboula ping

Sounds like a great name for a Greek restaurant.

[JimSEA]

An American company, Cyprus Mining, developed and mined those deposits until the Greek - Turkey dust up. Cyprus Mining finally went away when PD bought it and finally Freeport ended up with the whole thing - not the mine in Cyprus, however. I don’t thing there is any activity there now.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

The time period of the great migrations, “The Peoples of the Sea.”

[hellbender]

Through overseas trade, the island has given its name to the Classical Latin word for copper through the phrase aes Cyprium, "metal of Cyprus", later shortened to Cuprum.

Cyprus is one of the most fascinating places in the world geologically. The rocks there don't normally belong anywhere near sea level. It's discussed in John McPhee's book Assembling California.

[B.O. Plenty]

The recent find is also particularly significant because there is another older site from the Middle Bronze Age nearby, within walking distance, of the fortress.

....and if they dig a little deeper, they will find an even older site, and so on...

....there is plenty of material for archeologists to keep them busy for a lonnnggggg time.

[decimon]

The time period of the great migrations, “The Peoples of the Sea.”

And then there were my ancestors, "The Chicken of the Sea." They stayed home. ;-)

[SunkenCiv]

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[csvset]

to protect an important urban economic center in the ancient world.

It's the carbon credit depository ! /s