Archaeological findings from University of Athens excavations in Cyprus

Archaeological excavations conducted in late 2026 by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) have yielded significant discoveries at two major Cypriot sites. At the Erimi-Pamboula Chalcolithic settlement, researchers led by a multidisciplinary team uncovered a circular structure, an outdoor area with hearths and ochre processing traces, and abundant artifacts including pottery and stone tools. These findings confirm the site’s use between 3500 and 2800 B.C.

Simultaneously, at the Marcello site in Kouklia, a team directed by Professor Konstantinos Kopanias identified a monumental fortification system. Excavations during August and September 2026 revealed how a Late Bronze Age defensive wall bastion was integrated into a larger tower, providing definitive evidence of a massive defensive enclosure in Palaipaphos. The Marcello site, located less than a kilometer from the Sanctuary of Aphrodite, has been the subject of prior investigations by British, German-Swiss, and University of Cyprus missions, but these new discoveries significantly expand the historical understanding of the area's urban development. Scientific analysis of the recovered materials remains ongoing.