This project offers an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Cyprus's multicultural character during the late Bronze Age crisis years in the Mediterranean and to contribute to the ongoing discussions surrounding migration, interaction, and cultural exchange.
This project examines the late Bronze Age ceramic repertoire from the settlement of Pyla-Kokkinokremos in southeastern Cyprus. Along with Kition to the west and Hala Sultan Tekke to the southwest, Pyla was one of three major settlements that coexisted in the Gulf of Larnaka.
The settlement at Pyla lasted for no more than 50 years, from the mid-13th to the early 12th century BCE. During this time, Pyla witnessed the final flourish of international trade before the late Bronze Age crisis reached its peak in the Eastern Mediterranean, resulting in the collapse of regional exchange networks.
The ceramic assemblage from Pyla is notable for its variety compared to other nearby settlements on the island. It includes both handmade and wheel-thrown vessels, as well as imported items from Egypt, the Levant, western Asia Minor, Crete, the Greek mainland, and Sardinia.
The ceramic repertoire from Pyla has been extensively studied, both macroscopically (through typological and fabric classification) and geochemically using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). However, important questions remain unanswered, which could potentially be clarified through ceramic petrography. These questions concern certain types of imported ceramics identified as chemical "singletons," which can be more accurately attributed to specific regions through thin section analyses. This is particularly relevant for the so-called Canaanite jars—imported from the Levant for transporting resins and oils—as well as for Minoan coarse wares and Nuragic Sardinian ceramics. Furthermore, petrography is essential for more accurately distinguishing production centers within Cyprus. Currently, NAA cannot differentiate between the products of the most significant settlements in the Gulf of Larnaka. Additionally, chemical data suggest that handmade cooking pots and baking trays were produced in an as-yet unidentified region of the island. To accurately determine the origin of this ceramic ware, petrographic investigations are necessary.
This project aims to provide a detailed understanding of the local production organization in Late Bronze Age Pyla, while also identifying key phenomena related to knowledge transfer and innovation. It will help reconstruct regional exchange networks and clarify the production areas of cooking ware, investigating whether a centralized production of cooking ceramics existed for large parts of the island during this period. Furthermore, the project will closely examine international trade in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean.
since 2021
