The Division of Antiquities, of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, publicizes the completion of the 2021 archaeological excavations of the French Archaeological Mission at historic Kition (Larnaka-Pampoula). The French archaeological mission, underneath the path of Dr. Sabinne Fourrier (MEAE-CNRS-Lyon2 College), undertook a 4 week-campaign in October 2021.
The goals had been threefold: firstly, to finish the excavation of the neoria, which had been uncovered throughout earlier fieldwork (1984-1999). The completion of this excavation had been delayed for years as a result of presence of recent tennis courts on a part of the archaeological web site; secondly, to pursue the exploration of the stratigraphy of the location all the way down to Archaic and Geometric ranges in Trench 11 and thirdly, to additional expose ranges of the ‘transitional interval’ (twelfth˗eleventh c. BC) in Trench 10.
A press launch of the Antiquities Division mentioned the excavation of the neoria of Kition was accomplished due to the shifting of the tennis courts. Two primary questions oriented the analysis: 1) the boundaries and form of the harbour basin; 2) the doable extension of the ship-sheds in the direction of the East.
Two trenches within the northern and jap elements of the location (underneath the previous tennis courts) proved that the basin prolonged over the entire space of the fashionable archaeological web site. The “closed harbour” talked about by Strabo was a naturally protected basin, which was accessed by the North, and never by the East, and was linked to the Kathari bay, additional North. Coming from the North, triremes might be dealt with extra simply than beforehand thought, in an effort to be hauled stern first on the ramps of the ship-sheds.
As well as, excavation to the East of the ship-sheds constructing revealed a minimum of one extra ramp, evidenced by a pillar base. This base is constructed of an enormous limestone block resting on a powerful massif of blocks. To the East extends a sandstone wall, which connects with one other base-like construction, most likely functioning as a part of a closing wall of the constructing. Additional East, solely particles from fashionable backfill was eliminated, all the way down to the water-table.
On account of excavations on the web site, a constructing could thus be reconstructed comprised of seven parallel rows of ramps, open on the harbour basin to the North, delimited by terracing partitions on its western and southern sides and by a wall made from a succession of bases and supporting pillars on its jap facet.
In Trench 11, exploration of the Iron Age stratigraphy reached Classical ranges. Architectural options are poorly preserved, however a pit was excavated, which was crammed with Phoenician ostraca (inscribed materials). This focus of administrative paperwork proves the existence within the neighborhood of a scribal workplace, linked to the royal administration. The number of inscribed supplies is placing: pottery sherds, limestone and gypsum plaques, and even pebbles.
In Trench 10, the settlement courting to the ‘transitional interval’ (twelfth˗eleventh c. BC) was additional uncovered to the North. A part of a really well-preserved home was uncovered, with a succession of floor-levels (chalky flooring resting on a layer of small pebbles), with a fireplace and a doable artisanal set up.