Cyprus Press & Information Office 24 July 2019
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The Department of Antiquities
of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces the
completion
of the 2019 excavation season at the location of Pachyammos,
Geroskipou (Plot 223) under the direction of Archaeological Officer Dr
Eustathios Raptou, for the purposes of a development project for the
construction of a
hotel unit.
Investigations in the area
began in 2015, initially with small trial trenches, with the work accelerating
during in the
past few months. Following the completion of the last season
(June 2019), it has with relative certainty become clear
that the remains
uncovered belong to a large sanctuary complex of the Hellenistic period,
which unfortunately has
been seriously disturbed through the centuries, after
its abandonment.
Although mostly only the
foundations of the buildings have been preserved to date, it has become clear
from the architectural remains that the sanctuary complex comprises a Greek
style temple ‘peristyle in antis’ surrounded by a ‘peribolos’ wall, or an
enclosure. The temple occupies the southeastern side of the complex.
On its northeastern
side, there was a large courtyard or an atrium,
surrounded by long stoas, possibly provided with colonnades and a
series of
rooms. Investigations have up to now revealed only the eastern side (almost
in its entirety) and parts of the northern and western sides, where
investigations need to be continued further.
In the northwestern corner of
the courtyard, the foundation of a massive structure, almost square in plan,
has been uncovered made from unworked stones. It is believed that this
structure is the foundation of a cistern, since a
partially preserved
aqueduct leads into it. The aqueduct consists of a long wall with
debris from stone channels
and clay water pipes. It runs across the plot
under investigation in a northeasterly to southwesterly direction and
has
been uncovered over a distance of tens of meters. Along its course, to the
north of the courtyard, a second cistern foundation has been revealed, which
partly preserves the hydraulic plaster that coated the bottom of the cistern.
Clay pipes extend from this structure along both sides of the cistern,
running parallel to the aqueduct.
The organization of the space
and the typology of the buildings refer to a Greek type sanctuary built
during the
Ptolemaic period, probably on the remains of a preexisting local
sanctuary from which slight evidence has come to
light during the excavation.
The discovery of important hydraulic installations indicates an increased
need for and extensive use of large quantities of water, perhaps suggesting
the existence of groves and gardens related to the cults
in antiquity.
The above views are
preliminary, and only the continuation of investigations and study of the
finds will allow us to
draw firm conclusions concerning this important
archaeological discovery.
In recent consultation with the
Archbishop, it was decided that the uncovered archaeological site should be
preserved
as a unit within its natural environment together with the coastal
protection zone, at a safe distance from the hotel
and within a green zone.
The Department of Antiquities will continue the excavations to reveal the
archaeological remains.
It has also been decided that
any architectural plans of the development project should be modified in
close
cooperation with the Department of Antiquities and must be adapted to
the archaeological finds so as to guarantee
the unity of the archaeological
site and its harmonious coexistence with the project.
Finally, the archaeological
site will be made accessible to the public and its protection will be
ensured, by not
permitting extensions or additions of new buildings to the
project in the future.
(ΕΚ)
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