SurveyForeign missions
South-East Coast: the University of Minnesota Environmental Survey
1975 · Kition
Also known as Exploration de l'environnement des sites cotiers du Sud-Est de Chypre
The University of Minnesota's 1975 environmental survey of the south-east coast, whose field observations and preliminary study of samples indicated that the Larnaca salt marshes had once been a lagoon open to the Mediterranean.
Map of Cyprus
Where the work took place
- Main site
- Also worked at
- Ground above 200, 500, 1,000 m
Sites
- 1Kition
- 2Hala Sultan Tekke
The project
In 1975 George Rapp and John Gifford, for the University of Minnesota, explored the coast around Kition and Hala Sultan Tekke to reconstruct its former topography and environment1. They tested the hypothesis that sediment build-up blocked a lagoon near Hala Sultan Tekke, contributing to its abandonment at the end of the Bronze Age and prompting construction of an artificial port at Kition1. With the Cyprus Geological Survey they opened test trenches at eighteen localities and took soil samples1. Field observations and a preliminary study of the samples indicated that the salt marshes had once been a lagoon in direct communication with the Mediterranean; the report presents this as preliminary1. Some samples held enough organic material for radiocarbon dating, and a further campaign was planned for summer 19761.
Directors and team
Directed by
- George Rapp1975
- John Gifford1975
Institutions
- University of MinnesotaSponsor
- Department of AntiquitiesPartner
Seasons
1 season- 1975
First season of geomorphological survey: soil cores from trenches at eighteen localities with the Cyprus Geological Survey; indicates salt lake was once a lagoon open to the sea; hypothesis that its silting led to a new artificial port at Kition. Second season planned 1976.
Directed by George Rapp, John Gifford[1]
What was found
Periods
Publications
1 itemChronique des fouilles (Bulletin de correspondance hellénique)
Related
Other fieldwork at Kition · 11
- Kition: Luigi Palma di Cesnola's Excavations1866–1870
- Kition: Ohnefalsch-Richter's Excavations for the British Museum1879–1882
- Kition: Myres for the Cyprus Exploration Fund1894
- Kition: Myres at Sotiros and the Acropolis1910–1913
- Kition-Bamboula: the Swedish Cyprus Expedition1929–1930
- Kition: Department of Antiquities Rescue Work in the Town and Cemeteries1953–1981
- Kition: the Department of Antiquities Excavations at Kathari and Chrysopolitissa1959–1983
- Kition-Bamboula: the French Mission1976–today
- Kition-Ayios Georgios: Rescue Excavation of the Ancient Necropolis1979
- Larnaca: Department rescue excavations along the sewerage network (2012–2018)2012–2018
- Larnaca, Petrakis Kyprianou Street: Department rescue excavation in the S9 anti-flood works2019–2021
References
- 1.V. Karageorghis, 1976, Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1975, Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 100, livraison 2.
Sources
- 1.Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1975, pp. 46–47; p. 883.