Lemba Archaeological Research Centre, 
University of Edinburgh

 

Souskiou-Laona Settlement Project,
Cyprus, 2009
8 April-5 May, 2009
 

 

Near the famous temple of Aphrodite at Palaepaphos in southwest Cyprus is an equally remarkable prehistoric complex with similar claims to be a ritual centre. This complex and some of its cemeteries are located on the Laona ridge overlooking adjacent valleys and the Mediterranean, shown above. Volunteers are invited to apply to join a team of about 20.

****A description of the project and initial findings so far is available (PDF Format). There are photos of the team on site in 2008 available and also the Lemba Archaeological Research Centre website.

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The Excavation

Souskiou consists of four contemporary cemeteries and an associated settlement of c. 3000 BC. Since the 1950s, the cemeteries have yielded striking objects including a vast number of cruciform female figurines and statuettes that have found their way into collections world-wide. This excavation is the first systematic investigation of the settlement in an attempt to test the hypothesis that it functioned as a regionally integrative centre in which the ideology of birth, symbolised by the cruciform figurines in birth-giving posture, and death figured strongly. The settlement also has extensive evidence for working the imported picrolite used to carve the human cruciform-shaped figurines found among the habitations but especially in the cemeteries. Artisans’ workshops no doubt exist in this special settlement.

 

The complex is situated along the frontier between prehistoric villages to the west and rugged hill country to the east, and so it is also being assessed as a nodal place for unusual behaviour and exchange for the attractive picrolite. In short, the Souskiou-Laona Settlement Project (SLSP) aims to investigate community integration at local and regional levels.

Our research strategy aims to investigate the extent and character of the settlement by systematic surface collection, geomagnetic survey and coring to estimate site depths and map subsurface features, and strictly limited excavation of selected areas. Trial tests in 1992 proved that stratified deposits survive in discrete locales on its steep slopes. We anticipate floating 50% of sediments and sieving 100%. In 2009 we will concentrate on the excavation of a sequence of living and work areas in the lower settlement, a resistivity anomaly in the upper settlement and the area of a picrolite workshop on the West Ridge. To do so, we have assembled a team of widely recognised scholars who have committed themselves to the project. Drs. Bolger has agreed to deal with the pottery, Goring with figurative works, McCartney the chipped stone, Croft faunal remains and Lorentz human remains. We plan to integrate the study of the settlement and cemeteries in order to assess community integration at local and regional levels.

 

The team is now full! No further applications are able to be considered.