Series·Swedish Cyprus Expedition

Amathus: the tombs in the field and other finds

68 field photographs, 23 object photographs · 1930

Sites: Amathus, Lapithos, Lapithos-Vrysi tou Barba, Limassol, Idalion, Marion

These 68 field photographs and 23 object photographs record the Swedish Cyprus Expedition's excavation in the necropolis of Amathus, on the south coast, which began on 28 March 1930 and continued through April and May. Alfred Westholm was in charge. The expedition opened 26 tombs west of the acropolis, in ground between two areas dug by British excavators in 1893–1894, where villagers had already emptied one or two tombs.

Most prints come from the museum's folder "Amathus T. 2-26" and show the tombs open during work: the interior of the large built Tomb 2, finds in place in Tomb 11, the upper layer of Tomb 8, the find layer of Tomb 14, the dromos of Tomb 24 with its door opened, and beads and bones in place in Tomb 21. SCE II describes how earlier burials and their pottery were pushed aside against the walls when a tomb was reused. One photograph shows the expedition's Volvo, full of people including Westholm and John Lindros, on an excursion to Limassol. Some object photographs filed here are of finds from Lapithos.

Westholm's diaries for the dig are D II:2e, D II:2f and D II:2g. The finds are in the series for tombs 1–9 and tombs 10–26.

Sources

Gjerstad, E., Lindros, J., Sjöqvist, E. and Westholm, A. 1935. The Swedish Cyprus Expedition: Finds and Results of the Excavations in Cyprus 1927–1931, vol. II. Stockholm, pp. 1–4 and 138–141.