Dr. Miltiadis Polidorou

Historical map of Cyprus (1584). The red square indicates the study area. Small islands are located at the area where today the coastal site is located.

The “Echoes of the Past” project aims to explore and reveal the ancient coastal landscape of Palaepaphos, located in south-western Cyprus, with the primary objective of identifying the ancient harbour basin. This research project focuses on understanding how the region’s coastal landscape has evolved over the upper Holocene, which spans the last 5000 years.

The primary goal is to reconstruct the coastal environment of Palaepaphos during the upper Holocene, by studying geological formations, sediment samples, and other natural and archaeological records, with the use of state-of-the-art equipment and methodologies. The project seeks to paint a vivid picture of what the area looked like thousands of years ago and how it subsequently evolved. Understanding the natural environment is crucial to gaining insights into how ancient societies, particularly those in Palaepaphos, lived, adapted, and thrived in parallel with the coastal landscape evolution. The project aims to uncover connections between the evolving landscape and human activities, such as settlement patterns, agriculture, trade and importantly, the possible location and nature of the ancient habour basin. It also aims to bring a more holistic understanding to coastal change in Cyprus over time.

The project will bring together experts from various fields, including archaeology, geology, and environmental science. This interdisciplinary approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of both the natural and human history of the region.