Dr. Edmond Melhem – Cyprus belongs to Syria The Archaeology of Cyprus Part 9

In 1933, the Cypriot archaeologist and first Cypriote Director of Antiquities, Porphyrios Dikaos carried out explorations on behalf of the Cyprus Museum. He carried out excavations at Enkomi. He also “discovered and unearthed the first significant Neolithic settlement in Cyprus; Erimi” in the southern part of the island eight miles west of Limassol.[1] In the same year the French archaeologist Dr. Claude Schaeffer, who excavated Ras-el-Shamra (Ugarit) in Syria, arrived in Cyprus to investigate and find out any connection between his site (in Ras-el-Shamra) and the sites of Vounous-Bellapais in Kyrenia and of Enkomi, not far from Famagusta.

In 1934, the Department of Antiquities, which is responsible for archaeology, was established. J. Hilton was appointed as its first Director but two years later he was succeeded by A.H. S. Megaw who remained in his position till the end of British rule in 1960. The Cyprus Antiquities Department in addition to its work of conservation of ancient monuments, investigated many sites before and after World War II. Furthermore, forty-five years after the completion of the excavations by the first Swedish Cyprus Expedition[2], a second Swedish Cyprus Expedition followed. This expedition carried out its work under the direction of Gjerstad’s disciple Paul Aström, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Göteborg. Similarly, the French mission under Dr. Schaeffer and other expeditions from Western universities and many countries of the world carried out systematic archaeological research which yielded important results and gave Cyprus a prominent place on the archaeology map of the Mediterranean.  The Ashmolean Museum has received objects from some of these excavations and those of Schaeffer carried out at Enkomi. It must be noted here that this museum “has taken great interest in Cypriot field archaeology by mounting its expeditions and by supporting excavations otherwise sponsored.”[3]

_{[1] Alastos, Doros. Cyprus in History, op. cit., p. 11.}

_{[2] In 1972 and during a solemn and moving ceremony at the top of the hill of Vouni Palace that was uncovered by the Swedish Cyprus Expedition, the President of the Republic of Cyprus unveiled a stele which honours the members of the Swedish Cyprus Expedition and their leader Einar Gjerstad.}

_{[3] Brown, A.C. & Catling, H.W. Ancient Cyprus, op. cit., p. 3.}

Cyprus belongs to Syria The Archaeology of Cyprus Part 8

Cyprus belongs to Syria The Archaeology of Cyprus Part 7

Cyprus belongs to Syria The Archaeology of Cyprus Part 6

The Fascinating History of Cyprus Part 5

Cyprus belongs to Syria – Cyprus and the City of Atlantis Part IV

Cyprus belongs to Syria Part III – Its Geology

Cyprus belongs to Syria – Its Geography Part II

Cyprus belongs to Syria Part I