Swedish Cyprus Expedition
Encyclopedia
The Swedish Cyprus Expedition was a project to systematically investigate the archaeology of the entire early history of Cyprus
. It took place between September 1927 and March 1931 and was led by three archaeologists: Einar Gjerstad
, Erik Sjöqvist
and Alfred Westholm together with architect John Lindros.
Archaeological excavations were made at locations all over Cyprus including Lapithos
, Nitovikla, Ajia Irini and Enkomi
. The results were published in four volumes from 1934 to 1972. Most of the finds are now kept at the Cyprus Museum
; Nicosia and Medelhavsmuseet
, Stockholm.
In the early 1970s Paul Åström from the University of Gothenburg continued the tradition of the Swedish Cyprus Expedition with his excavations at the ancient city of Hala Sultan Tekke / Dromolaxia-Vizatzia near Larnaca. He concentrated mainly on the investigation of the late history of the city, viz. the later part of Late Cypriote period (Late Bronze Age). After the untimely death of Paul Åström, Peter M. Fischer
from the same university received the permission by the Department of Antiquities (2009) to continue the excavations there (2010). The main objective of the first season of the renewed excavations is to investigate the earliest history of the city which seems to have its roots in the Middle Cypriote period (Middle Bronze Age).
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. It took place between September 1927 and March 1931 and was led by three archaeologists: Einar Gjerstad
Einar Gjerstad
Einar Gjerstad was a Swedish archaeologist of the ancient Mediterranean, particularly known for his work on Cyprus, as well as his studies of early Rome....
, Erik Sjöqvist
Erik Sjöqvist
Erik Sjöqvist was the director of Swedish Cyprus Expedition and director of Swedish Institute at Rome, Italy and professor of classical archaeology at Princeton University....
and Alfred Westholm together with architect John Lindros.
Archaeological excavations were made at locations all over Cyprus including Lapithos
Lapithos
Lapithos or Lapethos is a town of Kyrenia District on the northern coast of Cyprus. According to Strabo, the settlement was founded by Spartans. In Assyrian inscriptions, Lapithos is mentioned as one of the eleven Cypriot kingdoms. During the Persian rule, Lapithos was settled by Phoenicians...
, Nitovikla, Ajia Irini and Enkomi
Enkomi
This article is about the town and ancient settlement near Famagusta. For the suburb of Nicosia , see: Engomi.Enkomi is a village near Famagusta on Cyprus. It is the site of an important Bronze Age city, possibly the capital of Alasiya...
. The results were published in four volumes from 1934 to 1972. Most of the finds are now kept at the Cyprus Museum
Cyprus Museum
The Cyprus Museum is the oldest and largest archaeological museum in Cyprus.The museum houses artefacts discovered during numerous excavations on the island. The museum is home to the most extensive collection of Cypriot antiquities in the world and is located on Museum Street in central Nicosia...
; Nicosia and Medelhavsmuseet
Medelhavsmuseet
Medelhavsmuseet is a museum in Stockholm focused around collections of mainly ancient objects from the Mediterranean area and the Near East. Its English name is The Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities. The museum was formed in 1954 when the Egyptian Museum and the Cyprus...
, Stockholm.
In the early 1970s Paul Åström from the University of Gothenburg continued the tradition of the Swedish Cyprus Expedition with his excavations at the ancient city of Hala Sultan Tekke / Dromolaxia-Vizatzia near Larnaca. He concentrated mainly on the investigation of the late history of the city, viz. the later part of Late Cypriote period (Late Bronze Age). After the untimely death of Paul Åström, Peter M. Fischer
Peter M. Fischer
Peter M. Fischer is an Austrian-Swedish archaeologist. He is a specialist on Eastern Mediterranean and Near Eastern archaeology, and archaeometry. He belongs to the University of Gothenburg and is associated with the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Sweden...
from the same university received the permission by the Department of Antiquities (2009) to continue the excavations there (2010). The main objective of the first season of the renewed excavations is to investigate the earliest history of the city which seems to have its roots in the Middle Cypriote period (Middle Bronze Age).