Archaeological discovery of Late Roman copper slag in Larnaca, Cyprus

The Cyprus Department of Antiquities announced the discovery of copper slag dating to the Late Roman period in the Aliki area of Larnaca. These findings were recorded during the Hala Sultan Tekke Hinterland Project, a multi-year research initiative led by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel that began in 2021. Fieldwork conducted in October and November 2025 involved systematic surface surveys and geophysical investigations around the Late Bronze Age urban center of Hala Sultan Tekke. Researchers examined sites including the Larnaca Salt Lake and Pyrga, where previous work identified large heaps of copper slag and dense Late Roman material, suggesting a regional industrial landscape for metal production. In 2024, the project utilized ground-penetrating radar in collaboration with the University of Cyprus. Furthermore, during 2025, the University of Ljubljana and the University of Zurich performed a magnetometric survey covering 8,000 square metres. This survey identified subsurface anomalies, such as linear features and zones of high magnetic intensity, which may correspond to ancient metallurgical installations or natural geological formations. These results are intended to guide future archaeological excavations in the region.