Heritage Collection of Traditional Pottery in Ayios Demetrios, Cyprus

A collaborative effort to create a heritage collection of traditional Cypriot handmade pottery, and the tools used to make and decorate them in Ayios Demetrios (Marathassa), brings together 135 artifacts donated by villagers. They are descendants of the men and women who made and used the artifacts. The collection is part of the living memory of the donors who recall helping their parents by preparing clay and carrying out other chores related to production. Donors have supplied the information they know about pot makers, pot names, usage, and age. Preliminary analysis of 60 decorated pots, provides data relevant to archaeologists interested in learning how long styles and manufacturing practices can persist in a rural setting.