Archaeologist Ian A. Todd passes away at 90

Distinguished British archaeologist Ian A. Todd, a pivotal figure in the study of Cypriot prehistory, passed away on August 4, 2026. The news was confirmed by the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute (CAARI) and the Archaeological Research Unit of the University of Cyprus, marking the loss of a researcher who dedicated over four decades to the island’s heritage.

In 1976, Todd founded and directed the Vasilikos Valley Project, an expansive research initiative covering nine millennia of human habitation, ranging from the Neolithic to the Roman periods. He led critical excavations, most notably at the Aceramic Neolithic settlement of Kalavasos-Tenta and, alongside Alison South, at the Late Bronze Age site of Kalavasos-Ayios Dhimitrios. Educated at the University of Birmingham, his work and extensive publications remain fundamental to modern archaeological understanding of Cyprus.

His legacy continues through the accessible archaeological sites he helped uncover and the generations of scholars he mentored. The Association of Cypriot Archaeologists and various research bodies have expressed their condolences, acknowledging his profound influence on the field and his lasting contribution to preserving the archaeological record of Cyprus.