Pottery unearthed during the excavation period at Panagia Karmiotissa in Limassol is dated to the 13th century, thus confirming, perhaps, an occupation of the site at a time which corresponds to the arrival of the Carmelites in Cyprus, according to the Department of Antiquities, which announced the completion of the first excavation season of the ‘Panagia Karmiotissa’ project.
In the press release the Department says that the excavation took place at the area surrounding the church of Panagia Karmiotissa under the direction of Dr. Andreas Nicolaides and Dr. Margot Hoffelt.
It is added that this project is the result of two years of close collaboration between the Eratosthenes Center of Excellence (ECoE) of Cyprus University of Technology and the CNRS Laboratory of Medieval and Modern Archaeology in the Mediterranean Area (LA3M), a collaboration supported by the Cyprus Department of Antiquities.
For various reasons, such as secondary historical sources, topography, toponymy and oral tradition, the site was
suspected to be the establishment realised by the Carmelites in Cyprus during the 13th century, the press release adds.
However, a study of the architecture of the church standing on the site now shows that it cannot predate the 14th century, it notes. It was therefore necessary to get to the underlying layers in order to investigate the stratigraphical potential of the area.
It is explained that three test pits were excavated: two in the northern terraces and one behind the church chevet.
It is added that in the most eastern terrace pit, at least three occupation levels were observed. It is noted that the ceramics collected on the intermediary one indicate it dates back to the 13th century, confirming an occupation of the site at a time which corresponds to the arrival of the Carmelites in Cyprus.
It is also added that in the most western terrace pit, two post-Byzantine occupation levels were identified. The first one showed the presence of several postholes. Behind the church chevet, several human-sized
pits oriented east to west were found which evoke emptied burial sites and may be part of the cemetery attached to the church.
The stratigraphic unit in which these pits were dug leans on a flight of stairs cut into the natural bedrock and oriented towards a location underneath the church chevet.
According to the press release this element, coupled with the ground penetrating radar surveys realised inside the church, suggests the existence of massive subjacent structures.
Source: Cyprus News Agency