Souskiou-Laona Settlement Project

Lemba Archaeological Research Centre,
University of Edinburgh

Souskiou-Laona Settlement Project,
Cyprus, 2011
Monday 2 May-Saturday 29 May

SORRY, NO MORE APPLICATIONS

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 8.

**** See the Project website http://xweb.geos.ed.ac.uk/~s9812709/Souskiou/ for discoveries, people, photos, reports. And for our accommodation see Lemba Archaeological Research Centre website.

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 2011 we will concentrate on the excavation of a prolific midden underlying the earliest buildings of the settlement, and the processing of figurines and other objects discovered in previous seasons. 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.

Daily routines

We work five-and-a-half days per week, Monday to Saturday lunch, normally from c. 0700 to 1500 hrs on site. Depending on the quantities of recovered material, some afternoons are alternatively spent on cleaning, sorting and initial recording, either at the Kouklia Manor House 10 minutes from the site by car or back at LARC. The final week may be entirely devoted to finds processing, flotation etc, mostly at the Kouklia Manor House.

Requirements
You will need to be conscientious, with attention to detail. The duration of the excavation is four weeks and wegive priority to applicants who apply for the full period. If you have had a tetanus booster within the last year or so, then further vaccination may not be necessary on this occasion — but check with your GP!

You need to bring the following with you:

a robust pointing trowel not greater than 4 inches long (ideally a 4 inches solid-forged WHS pointing trowel)

water bottle, hat, sunglasses, sun block, insect repellent

sturdy workboots (the hillside can be tricky walking)

light as well as water proof clothing; also warm jersey for surprisingly cool evenings and early mornings at start of season

Freestanding tent (optional), sleeping bag, linen and pillow

towels and toiletries

torch

lightweight sandals/flip flops

passport (no visa required by holders of EU and most countries passports)

travel insurance policy document

Costs
Team members will be provided with accommodation and basic maintenance. They must pay for their own airfares, transport to and from airports, meals on days off, and attend to their own travel and medical insurance (possession of valid insurance is a condition of acceptance). The SLSP funds travel and maintenance costs of supervisors and specialists. Newcomers who are offered a place will be asked to reserve that place by sending a non- refundable registration fee of sterling £50. Spending Money: Prices in Cyprus are approx. the same as in the UK for most things.

Accommodation

The Lemba Archaeological Research Centre, a section of the University of Edinburgh’s unit in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, is also located near Paphos in west Cyprus. The Centre has a large, vine-shaded roof suitable for sleeping facilities, workroom, showers and kitchen. Mattresses are provided but team members are requested to bring their own sleeping bag, linen and pillow. There is ample space for tents (byo) on the roof under the vines, and those who require a little more personal space may choose this option. Tents should not require pegs to be driven into the ground. Accommodation at the Centre is entirely self-catering, and there is a fully equipped supermarket only 10 minutes walk from it. This will be the location for early arrivals and late departures.

Background Reading
Crewe, L. E. Peltenburg and S. Spanou 2002 Contexts for cruciforms: figurines from prehistoric Cyprus, Antiquity 76: 21-2;
Karageorghis, V. 1982 Cyprus from the Stone Age to the Romans. London;
Maier, F.G. and Karageorghis, V. 1984 Paphos: History and Archaeology;
Morris, D. 1985 The Art of Ancient Cyprus. Oxford;
Peltenburg E. (ed.) 1989 Early Society in Cyprus. Edinburgh;
Steel, L. 2004 Cyprus Before History. From the Earliest Settlers to the End of the Bronze Age. London.

Other information
Participants must be reasonably fit and very enthusiastic. Cyprus has two airports: Larnaca and Paphos. Paphos airport is much closer to Kouklia and Lemba but those wishing to stay on and spend time on Cyprus may wish to fly into Larnaca. Please ensure you have a current Anti- tetanus vaccination. Further information will be supplied upon acceptance to SLSP. Expedition members should familiarize themselves with the Field Safety Guidelines, available at: http://www.arcl.ed.ac.uk/safety/field.html

To apply, fill in the form below, which will automatically submitted to the director, Edgar Peltenburg.
For further information, you can also email direct: e.peltenburg@ed.ac.uk

Application Form

SORRY, NO MORE APPLICATIONS