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FIELDWORK
We have just closed rescue excavations conducted in conjuction with the Department
of Antiquities at Rantidi Forest to define the ancient sites within the area
which is currently under development, the largest single tourist development
on the island to date, for the creation of a hotel, tourist village, golf
course complex.
Because of these proposed developments, the Rantidi Forest Excavations
has undertaken, since 1997, multi-site, diachronic survey of the entire
Forest area, discovering and identifying more than 19 sites from the Chalcolithic
period to the Late 19th century. The original object of these excavations
was the large sanctuary located on the hilltop of Lingrin tou Dhiyeni,
whose remains cover the entire period of the first millennium B.C. I have
recently suggested, in my article for the AIA:
"The display and viewing of the syllabic inscriptions of Rantidi sanctuary", in Script and Seal Use on Cyprus in the Bronze and Iron Ages. J. S. Smith (ed.). Archaeological Institute of America Colloquia and Conference Papers Series.
that the physical attributes of this sanctuary, specifically the numerous rock-cut chambers which are associated with each known sanctuary building, suggest the worship of a deity of a chthonic and sepulchral nature, specifically that of the deity known by the Greeks as Adonis, called Phoneeis, or the god who speaks at his own sanctuary, later syncretized during the late Classical and Hellenistic periods to Apollo. The Rantidi sanctuary overlooks the sanctuary at PalaioPaphos identified by Homer as the home of Aphrodite, and it is logical that the worship of the demi-deity whose place in mythology was as the goddess' lover would occur in physical relationship with the worship of the goddess herself.
Dr. Carole McCartney, who is responsible for publishing all the prehistoric remains of the Rantidi Forest, has an article in press, in the Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus (RDAC) 2000, called "Prehistoric occurrences in the Randi State Forest: a preliminary report of the Rantidi Forest Project". We are happy to report that due to the efforts of the Rantidi Forest Excavations, a 19th century farmhouse complex has been declared a national monument, and is to be restored as a part of the current development of the area. Consisting of a farmhouse with tiled roof and floors, with attached stables, it boasts of a large, elliptical threshing floor, 32 x 28 meters, which is plaqued, and almost completely intact. This farm house has been built next to a large cistern, over six meters long and sunk over three meters deep into the bedrock. We believe at this time that this cistern dates from the use of this area as a Lusignian manor, as attested by the finds at the site known at Lakkos tou Frankgou, and was reused by those who later built the farm. Also under our excavaton purvey, at Upper Vrysi tou Rantidhiou, is a Hellenistic olive oil industrial complex, complete with large cement-lined cisterns and sunken pithoi. This area was later reused in the 13th century, as attested by sgraffito ware, seemingly for a monastic complex similar to those found in contemporary Syria-Palestine. Intact water-pipes are still in situ in the slopes below, but it cannot be determined at this time whether they belong to the Hellenistic or Medaeval periods of use. At this time, plans are being discussed to excavate this area (Vrysi) as part of the development project, as these antiquities occur on the projected 8th and 9thholes of the golf course.
Eastern Washington University website about excavations:
http://sites.google.com/site/ewuincyprus/
EWU blog about excavations:
http://ewuincyprusarcheology.blogspot.com/
For more information about the excavations, please contact the
Assistant Excavation Director Brett Jordan:
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send any comments or suggestions for the project or website to
Co-ordinator@ancientcyprus.ac.uk |
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