Excavations at Akamas have revealed fascinating insights into prehistoric coastal life, with archaeologists at Drouseia-Skloinikia uncovering a wealth of stone tools, beads, shells, and bones, some dating back 8,000 years. This significant find offers a rare glimpse into the island’s ancient past and its early inhabitants.
The 2025 excavation was spearheaded by Dr Theodora Moutsiou from the University of Cyprus, collaborating with Dr Christian Reepmeyer from the German Archaeological Institute. The project brought together students from various institutions, including Cyprus, Athens, Cologne, and Rome, fostering a collaborative research environment.
As part of the TOPOS project, which investigates early coastal prehistory in Cyprus, this year’s excavation built upon last year’s geophysical survey that identified unusual subsoil features. Archaeologists excavated five sections, reaching depths of up to 60 cm, revealing a rich array of artefacts that shed light on the site’s historical significance.
This year’s focus was to extend the previously excavated sections to natural soil and explore new areas. The team aimed to examine the stratigraphy and formation processes of the site while systematically recording and collecting artefacts to ascertain the site’s extent, nature, and chronology.
Among the discoveries were hundreds of stone artefacts featuring typo-technological attributes that date back to the end of the Pleistocene, during the last Ice Age, and into the Early Holocene, a transitional warming period spanning from 12,000 to 8,000 years ago. Preliminary carbon dating of charcoal samples indicates that the artefacts are no more than 8,000 years old.
A total of nine new sections were excavated this year, with one reaching the natural surface to study site formation. Geomorphological samples were collected for further analysis, while the remaining eight sections, dug approximately 20 cm deep, investigated a previously identified magnetic anomaly.
The excavation of these final sections uncovered an in-situ working floor, revealing chunks of raw stone, cores, hammerstones, and sharp flakes that had been knocked off. This find provides invaluable insight into the activities of the site’s ancient inhabitants.
The antiquities department commented on the significance of the assemblage, stating, “This impressive collection provides us with some initial information about at least some of the work carried out at Skloinikia by its inhabitants.” The artefacts, which include beads, flint, and other stone tools, bones, and shell objects, enrich this year’s collection.
Research conducted by the University of Cyprus is crucial, as it positions the Akamas Peninsula within a wider network of interactions in the Eastern Mediterranean. This understanding aids in tracing the development of prehistoric coastal communities, patterns of human migration, and the settlement of groups on the island over time.
