Important finds at Late Bronze Age site

Cyprus Mail ^ | Friday, August 5, 2011 | Natalie Hami

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A large building dating as far back as 1200 BC and a female goddess figurine were only some of the fascinating finds following five-week long excavations at the Late Bronze harbour city of Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca. Inside the 30 by 20m building were both living and working spaces containing spindle whorls and loom weights, which indicate the production of textiles, as well as a plethora of high-quality pottery imported mainly from the Mycenaean world. Jugs, bowls and jars were among the pottery uncovered... According to Fischer some of the findings were imported from Egypt... Another significant find was a haematite cylinder seal... locally produced hand-made White Slip bowls and jugs which were exported to Egypt and Greece among other nearby areas... The Late Bronze Age harbour city is one of the biggest in Cyprus at 25 hectares... There were also three occupational layers, meaning that the city was destroyed twice, however the foundations of the city go even further back... Meanwhile, archaeological excavations at the Bronze Age site of Politiko-Troullia uncovered a 40cm stone plank figure, which is female. Its highly abstract form is typical of Cypriot plank figurines, which are normally ceramic and much smaller. The deposits reach up to 4m below the modern surface, making this one of the most deeply stratified sites on the island.

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