Archaeologists discover Byzantine ruins in Kofinou, Cyprus

Between June 15 and July 24, 2026, a research team from the University of Cyprus conducted excavations at the sites of Kofinou Agios Irakleios and Menogeia Limnes. Led by Associate Professor Athanasios Vionis and Dr. Doria Nikolaou as part of the 'Settled and Sacred Landscapes of Cyprus' (SeSaLaC) project, the fieldwork uncovered significant Byzantine-era structures.

The findings include a Byzantine temple dome dating from the 8th to 10th centuries AD, alongside storage and workshop areas spanning the 4th to 8th centuries AD. Within the single-aisled temple, investigators revealed an almost intact floor made of large gypsum slabs and the base of the iconostasis, identified by lime mortar strips. According to the Department of Antiquities, the confirmation of the dome is considered one of the project's most critical findings.

These excavations form part of an ongoing initiative by the Archaeological Research Unit and the Summer School of Archaeology to map the historical development of the region. The university researchers continue to analyze the spatial organization and material culture recovered from these sites to better understand the evolution of settlements in Cyprus during the Byzantine period.