Brock University Archaeological Practicum at Kition (Larnaca), Cyprus (1977)

BROCK UNIVERSITY ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRACTICUM AT KITION (LARNACA), CYPRUS (1977) by DAVID W. RUPP The eighth annual Brock University Archaeological Practicum was held at ancient Kition (Larnaca) on Cyprus from June IS to July 26, 1977. Eighteen students from Brock University and other Canadian and American universities participated in the program. Dr. Vassos Karageorghis (Director of the Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cypnls) was the principal instructor with the assistance of Ms. Jenny Webb (British School of Archaeology at Athens). Professors J. Winifred Alston and David W. Rupp represented Brock University at the Practicum. The work of the field school was concentrated at the Late Bronze Age religious sanctuary and metal working complex in Area III of Kition. The students completed the excavation of a series of rooms in the workshop area within the city walls to the northwest of Temple I. The finds fOW1d on a series of floors in these rooms dated from Late Cypriote III A to III C. This work aided in the understanding of the use of this area and the stratigraphy of the site . In addition to this work the students excavated two Late Cypriote IT period chamber tombs at Arpera southwest of Larnaca. Although the tombs had been looted in antiquity a large quantity of pottery was found including some very unusual ~lycenaean III A sherds. One of the tombs cut through a portion of an Early Cypriote period house . As a resul t, a well-preserved two-meterlong section of an Early Cypriote period house wall was uncovered with associated pottery. This unexpected discovery helped to confiI1ll the presence of an apparently extensive settlement dating to this period whose existence heretofore was only suggested by pottery sherds and stone implements found on the surface. The students also visited sites, museums and other excavations in progress on the island as part of the program. The extreme heat during July notwithstanding , the 1977 Archaeological Practicum on Cyprus was the most successful to date . Brock Univer8ity ...