Archaeological findings discovered near Paphos Lighthouse

The Department of Antiquities in Cyprus has recently undertaken restoration works, landscaping, and the construction of new access paths around the historic Paphos Lighthouse. During these site improvements, workers discovered an ancient water management system, including a cistern, a pebble floor, and a drainage channel. Experts dated these remains to the early Roman period, specifically the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, based on pottery fragments recovered from the channel.

Constructed in 1888 under British administration, the 20-meter-tall lighthouse stands as a landmark within the Paphos Archaeological Park. While it initially served as a critical navigational aid before the era of modern GPS and radar, it remains fully operational today, albeit in an automated state. Prior to its construction, maritime safety relied on signal fires lit at strategic coastal points, according to Theofano Markou, a port officer with the Cyprus Ports Authority. The site continues to serve both as an active navigational reference and as a major destination for thousands of annual visitors.