Archaeologist · Excavator · Scholar
Alan H. Simmons
b. 1945 · United States
American prehistorian who directed the excavation of Akrotiri-Aetokremnos from 1987, then dug Kholetria Ortos and the Early Neolithic upland site of Ais Giorkis in western Cyprus.
Biography
Alan H. Simmons directed the excavation of Akrotiri-Aetokremnos, a collapsed rock shelter on the Akrotiri peninsula where pygmy hippopotamus bones lay among chipped stone, shell beads and hearths. He describes himself as "an outsider to Cyprus" who was invited to excavate a site few Cypriot archaeologists thought worthwhile. He calls Stuart Swiny, a former director of the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute, "a persistent believer" and the main influence4.
The work began in July 1987 as a two-week test excavation for the Desert Research Institute of the University of Nevada. It found intact deposits, and David S. Reese of the Natural History Museum was to analyse the faunal samples1. Ellen Herscher lists full excavations in 1987, 1988 and 1990, while Louise Steel summarises the project as 1987-902,3. The reports give c. 250,000 bones and fragments, at least 220 pygmy hippopotamuses, three dwarf elephants, and a radiocarbon date of c. 10,464 +/- 25 BP, about 8500 BC. The date put human presence on the island at about 8500 BC, and the claimed association of humans with the extinct animals was the controversial point2,3. He published "Humans, Island Colonization and Pleistocene Extinctions in the Mediterranean: The View from Akrotiri Aetokremnos, Cyprus" in Antiquity in 199110, and later a book, Faunal Extinction in an Island Society: Pygmy Hippopotamus Hunters of Cyprus8.
From 1992 he turned to Kholetria Ortos near Paphos, an aceramic Neolithic site first recorded by the Canadian Palaipaphos Survey Project. Herscher reports test excavations in 1992 and 1993 and a last season in 19942,3. He published the test excavations with J. Corona in the Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus for 19935,9. Herscher gives his affiliation for these seasons as the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Steel gives the University of Nevada, Reno2,3.
He also worked at Ais Giorkis, an upland Early Aceramic Neolithic site in western Cyprus. A progress report on the investigations of 1997 to 2009 appeared in the Department of Antiquities report for 201012, followed by "Ais Giorkis: An Unusual Early Neolithic settlement in Cyprus" in the Journal of Field Archaeology in 201211. The final volume, which he edited, is From the mountains to the sea: Ais Giorkis, an Early Neolithic hamlet in the Troodos foothills of western Cyprus (SIMA 156, 2023)14.
Simmons also wrote on the protection of the island's early prehistory, in a chapter of 2017 in a volume on four decades of interrupted archaeological research in Cyprus13. Summerer observes that his 2012 article includes the discoveries at Tatlisu/Akanthou in the north of the island, while the 2017 chapter does not; she gives this as her own reading of the two publications6.
Life and work
- July 1987Two-week test excavation at Akrotiri-Aetokremnos ('Site E'), run for the Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada; intact deposits c. 0.75 m thick with Phanourios bones, shells and chipped stone found; faunal samples to be analysed by David Reese.
AkrotiriKarageorghis 1988
- 1987–1990Directed excavations at the collapsed rock shelter (1987, 1988, 1990 per Herscher; reported as 1987-90 by Steel): c. 250,000 bones and fragments, at least 220 pygmy hippos and three dwarf elephants, chipped stone, shell beads, hearths; radiocarbon c. 10,464 +/- 25 BP (c. 8500 BC), earlier than any previously known human presence on Cyprus. Interpreted by the excavators as an association of humans with extinct fauna.
AkrotiriHerscher 1995Steel 1997-1998
- 1992–1994Test excavations at the aceramic Neolithic site of Kholetria Ortos, first recorded by the Canadian Palaipaphos Survey Project; 1992 and 1993 seasons, a last season in 1994 (Herscher); finds: chipped stone incl. sickle blanks, ground stone, incised cobbles, a limestone figurine torso, fragmentary human remains (1993).
- 1997–2009Investigations at the upland Early Aceramic Neolithic site of Ais Giorkis (progress report 1997-2009 in RDAC 2010); final volume as editor, SIMA 156 (2023).
Kritou MarottouGiven 2025
- 2012Published 'Ais Giorkis: An Unusual Early Neolithic settlement in Cyprus' (J. Field Archaeology 37.2); Summerer (2023) notes that this article includes the new discoveries at Tatlisu/Akanthou (north Cyprus) while his 2017 article in a Department of Antiquities-published volume does not.
In the field
35 recordsWhere they worked in the field
- Ground above 200, 500, 1,000 m
Sites
- 1Akrotiri-Aetokremnos
- 2Kholetria-Ortos (approx.)
Aetokremnos
1987–2009
Excavated · 1987–1990Alan Simmons and his collaborators excavated nearly the entire Aetokremnos site over three years.
Excavated · 2009Alan H. Simmons and his team surface-collected and excavated the remaining portion of Aetokremnos.
hippo bone, bird bone, shell, chipped stone artifacts, picrolite pendant blankAmmerman & Davis 2013, p. 144
Excavated withDavid S. Reese participated with Alan H. Simmons in all three excavation seasons.
Excavated with David S. ReeseAetokremnosSimmons 1999, p. xiii
Excavated withSteve Held participated with Alan H. Simmons in all three excavation seasons as field director.
Excavated with Steve HeldAetokremnosSimmons 1999, p. xiii
Excavated withAlan Simmons and Rolfe Mandel referred to four seasons of excavations at Aetokremnos as their own.
Excavated with Rolfe D. MandelSimmons & Mandel 2007, p. 476
ExcavatedAlan H. Simmons and his team conducted four seasons of interdisciplinary excavations at Aetokremnos.
deposits and faunal materialsAmmerman & Davis 2013, p. 142
RecordedAlan H. Simmons numbered stratigraphic units from the surface downward rather than sequentially from the bottom upward.
Akrotiri-Aetokremnos
1987–2009
Dug for · 1987–1991A. H. Simmons excavated at Akrotiri-Aetokremnos for the University of Nevada Reno.
Dug for University of Nevada RenoAkrotiri-Aetokremnos excavationCyprus: Crossroads of civilizations, p. 250
Dug for · 1987Alan Simmons directed trial excavations at Site E for the Desert Research Institute of the University of Nevada.
Dug for Institut de Recherche du Désert de l'Université du Nevadafouilles d'essai du Site EKarageorghis 1988, p. 817
Directed excavations · 1987–1990Alan H. Simmons led excavations at Akrotiri Aetokremnos in 1987, 1988, and 1990.
Excavated · 1987–1990Alan Simmons and an interdisciplinary team excavated Aetokremnos almost entirely.
Excavated · 1988Alan H. Simmons started excavations at Akrotiri Aetokremnos.
Excavated · 2009Alan Simmons and the team returned to finish the excavation at Aetokremnos.
Helped byStuart Swiny’s influence contributed to Alan H. Simmons undertaking an investigation of Akrotiri-Aetokremnos.
ExcavatedA. Simmons excavated the site of Akrotiri-Aetokremnos.
site d'Akrotiri-AetokremnosBrun 2000, p. 241
ExcavatedSimmons excavated the rock-shelter at Akrotiri Aetokremnos.
chipped-stone tools and animal bonesMeyers 1997, p. 90
Directed excavationsAlan H. Simmons directed investigations at Aetokremnos.
Akrotkiri Aetokremnos
1987–1990
Directed excavations · 1987–1990Alan Simmons directed excavations at the rock shelter of Akrotkiri Aetokremnos.
a PR cliff-side rock shelterSteel 1997-1998, p. 139
Akrotiri Peninsula
1990–1991
Excavated · 1990Alan H. Simmons participated in test excavations at three small sites previously recorded by Pile.
Three small archaeological sitesSimmons 1999, p. 243
Surveyed · 1991Alan H. Simmons conducted a survey of the Akrotiri Peninsula during three weeks in July.
Akrotiri Peninsula archaeological sitesSimmons 1999, p. 241Steel 1997-1998, p. 139
Kholetria-Ortos
1990–2009
Directed excavations · 1990Alan Simmons led a team from the University of Nevada that excavated Kholetria-Ortos.
Excavated · 1992–1993Alan Simmons excavated Kholetria Ortos in 1992 and 1993.
Dug for · 1994–2009Alan H. Simmons directed the University of Nevada-Las Vegas excavations at Kholetria Ortos.
Dug for University of Nevada, Las VegasCyprus: Crossroads of civilizations, p. 250Herscher 1998, p. 317
ExcavatedAlan H. Simmons conducted extensive tests at Kholetria-Ortos.
Site 2
1990
Excavated · 1990Alan H. Simmons's team collected material and conducted test excavations at Site 2.
Marine shells and artifacts at Site 2Simmons 1999, p. 245
Choletria- Ortos
1992–1994
Dug for · 1992–1994A.H. Simmons excavated at Choletria-Ortos for UNLV.
Dug for UNLVCyprus: Crossroads of civilizations, p. 250
Koletria Ortos
1992–1993
Excavated · 1992–1993Alan Simmons conducted limited test excavations at Koletria Ortos.
test excavation findsSteel 1997-1998, p. 145
Ais Giorkis
2002–2015
Excavated · 2002–2008A. H. Simmons and the other authors undertook the first campaign of interdisciplinary investigations at Ais Giorkis.
Directed · 2009Alan H. Simmons directed the 2009 excavation season at Ais Giorkis for the University of Nevada.
Excavated · 2013–2015A. H. Simmons and the other authors undertook a second campaign of excavations at Ais Giorkis.
DirectedAlan Simmons directed the University of Nevada, Las Vegas excavations at Ais Giorkis.
Directed University of Nevada, Las VegasFlourentzos 2010, p. 62
adjacent sand dune sites
2010
Recorded · 2010Alan H. Simmons conducted a short season at adjacent sand dune sites previously tested during the major fieldwork period.
Ais Yiorkis
ExcavatedAlan H. Simmons excavated Ais Yiorkis.
British military installation
Held a permit to digAlan H. Simmons was granted a permit to begin excavations at Aetokremnos.
Site 23
ExcavatedAlan H. Simmons's team conducted test operations at Site 23 and recovered a small chipped stone assemblage.
Chipped stone assemblage from Site 23Simmons 1999, p. 256
Connections
24 peopleFieldwork & employment
- Guided by Stuart SwinyStuart Swiny led Alan H. Simmons down the cliff to Aetokremnos. Simmons 1999, p. 11985
- Excavated with J. Coronaprobably1993
- Excavated with David S. ReeseDavid S. Reese participated with Alan H. Simmons in all three excavation seasons. Simmons 1999, p. xiii
- Excavated with Rolfe D. MandelAlan Simmons and Rolfe Mandel referred to four seasons of excavations at Aetokremnos as their own. Simmons & Mandel 2007, p. 476
- Excavated with Steve HeldSteve Held participated with Alan H. Simmons in all three excavation seasons as field director. Simmons 1999, p. xiii
Disputes & the law
- Rival of Albert J. Ammermanpossibly2005–2007
Scholarship
- Wrote with J. Corona1993
- Wrote with Peter E. Wigand1994–2002
- Wrote with David S. Reese1999–2002
- Material published by Mark Rose1999–2002
- Wrote with Martin R. Rose1999–2002
- Wrote with Rolfe D. Mandel1999–2007
- Wrote with Salvador Bailon1999–2002
- Wrote with Cécile Mourer-Chauviré2002
- Wrote with Karel J. Steensma2002
- Wrote with Kathy Roler2002
- Wrote with Margaret E. Newman2002
- Wrote with Mark Rose2002
- Wrote with Michael Neeley2002
- Wrote with Sandra Olsen2002
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Wrote with Stephen R. Durand2002
- Wrote with Stuart Swiny2002
- Wrote with Vincenzo M. Francaviglia2002
Colleagues & contacts
- Connected with Stuart Swiny1985
- Worked with David S. ReeseAlan H. Simmons examined Aetokremnos with David Reese. Simmons 2008, p. 231987
- Connected with Brian Pile1991
- Worked with Michael Neeley1991–2002
- Worked with Kathy Roler1999–2002
- Worked with Deborah OlszewskiAlan H. Simmons and Deborah Olszewski conducted detailed chipped stone analyses. Simmons 1999, p. 48
- Connected with Dr T. StaffordAlan H. Simmons submitted a bone sample to Dr T. Stafford for analysis of its nitrogen content. Simmons 1991, p. 865
- Worked with Geoffrey ClarkAlan H. Simmons and Geoffrey Clark conducted detailed chipped stone analyses. Simmons 1999, p. 48
- Worked with Martin R. RoseAlan H. Simmons and Martin Rose worked together on a comparison of the Aetokremnos assemblage with Levantine materials. Simmons 1999, p. 276
- Worked with Stuart SwinyAlan H. Simmons examined Aetokremnos with Stuart Swiny. Simmons 2008, p. 23
- Helped by Stuart SwinyStuart Swiny’s influence contributed to Alan H. Simmons undertaking an investigation of Akrotiri-Aetokremnos. Peltenburg & Wasse 2004, p. 2
- Helped by Sturt W. ManningSturt Manning assisted Alan H. Simmons and his team in attempting to date additional samples. Ammerman & Davis 2013, p. 148
- Connected with William Fox
Recording and study
12 records- Published2
2012Alan Simmons included the Tatlısu/Akanthou discoveries in an article discussing Neolithic Cyprus.
discoveries at Tatlısu/AkanthouSummerer 2023, p. 46
A. H. Simmons published a partial list of analysed faunal remains from Ais Yiorkis.
Ais Yiorkis faunal remainsSimmons 2009, p. 5
- Studied8
Alan H. Simmons carried out a detailed techno-typological analysis of the chipped stone artefacts from Akrotiri-Aetokremnos.
Alan H. Simmons conducted detailed analyses of the Aetokremnos chipped stone artifacts.
chipped stone artifacts from AetokremnosSimmons 1999, p. 48
Alan H. Simmons examined the Kyrenia material in Nicosia.
Kyrenia materialsSimmons 1999, p. 260
Alan H. Simmons reclassified an artifact as a large secondary flake with some battering.
Site 23Simmons 1999, p. 256
Alan H. Simmons briefly examined chipped stone materials from Cape Andreas Kastros at the Cyprus Museum.
Cape Andreas Kastros chipped stone materialsCyprus Museum, NicosiaSimmons 1999, p. 270
Alan H. Simmons examined chipped stone from Khirokitia at the Cyprus Museum.
Khirokitia chipped stone materialsSimmons 1999, p. 270
Alan H. Simmons analyzed unpublished Ortos materials while comparing chipped stone assemblages.
Ortos chipped stone materialsSimmons 1999, p. 271
A. Simmons documented Aetokremnos.
- Other work2
A charcoal sample from Level 2 was submitted and returned a determination of 10,185 cal. BC.
one charcoal sample from Level 2No. OxA-15989Oxford's facilitySimmons & Mandel 2007, p. 479
P. Wigand and A. H. Simmons obtained 31 radiocarbon determinations from Aetokremnos.
Discussed in documents
- Knapp et al. (1994). The prehistory of Cyprus: Problems and prospectsExcavator associated with Aetokremnos
- Ammerman and Noller (2005). New Light on AetokremnosPublished interpretations of the site and its dates
- Zazzo et al. (2015). Direct dating and physico-chemical analyses cast doubts on the coexistence of humans and dwarf hippos in CyprusLead excavator who interpreted Aetokremnos
Also named in
On Ancient Cyprus
3 pagesSources
- 1.V. Karageorghis (1988). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1987”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 112.
- 2.Ellen Herscher (1995). “Archaeology in Cyprus”. American Journal of Archaeology 99, 257-294.
- 3.Louise Steel (1997-1998). “Archaeology in Cyprus 1987-1997”. Archaeological Reports 44, 137-149.
- 4.E. Peltenburg (ed.), A. Wasse (ed.) (2004). Neolithic Revolution: New Perspectives on Southwest Asia in Light of Recent Discoveries on Cyprus. Oxford, Oxbow Books.
- 5.M. K. Toumazou (ed.), P. N. Kardulias (ed.), D. B. Counts (ed.) (2011). Crossroads and Boundaries: The Archaeology of Past and Present in the Malloura Valley, Cyprus.
- 6.Lâtife Summerer (2023). “In Fear of Blacklisting. How the Division Shaped Archaeology in Cyprus”. New Approaches toward Recording, Preserving and Studying Cultural Heritage in Divided Cyprus. Kyrenia, ARUCAD Press.
- 7.Michael Given (2025). “Over the landscape, in the landscape? Knowledge and agency in Cypriot archaeology, 1870-1910”. Empire & Excavation: Critical perspectives on archaeology in British-period Cyprus, 1878-1960. Leiden, Sidestone Press.
- 8.Alan H. Simmons (1999). Faunal Extinction in an Island Society: Pygmy Hippopotamus Hunters of Cyprus. New York, Kluwer Academic/Plenum.
- 9.A. H. Simmons, J. Corona (1993). “Test Excavations at Kholetria Ortos: A Neolithic Settlement near Paphos”. Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, 1-10.
- 10.A. Simmons (1991). “Humans, Island Colonization and Pleistocene Extinctions in the Mediterranean: The View from Akrotiri Aetokremnos, Cyprus”. Antiquity 65, 857-869.
- 11.A. H. Simmons (2012). “Ais Giorkis: An Unusual Early Neolithic settlement in Cyprus”. Journal of Field Archaeology 37, 86-103.
- 12.A. Simmons (2012). “Ais Giorkis, an upland Early Aceramic Neolithic site in western Cyprus: progress report of the 1997-2009 investigations”. Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus 2010, 27-52.
- 13.A. H. Simmons (2017). “Protecting and Preserving the 'Deep Time' Prehistory of Cyprus”. Four Decades of Hiatus in Archaeological Research in Cyprus: Towards Restoring the Balance, 44-54. Vienna.
- 14.A. Simmons (ed.) (2023). From the mountains to the sea: Ais Giorkis, an Early Neolithic hamlet in the Troodos foothills of western Cyprus. Åström Editions.
- 15.Cyprus: Crossroads of civilizations. Washington, DC, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
- 16.Ellen Herscher (1998). “Archaeology in Cyprus”. American Journal of Archaeology 102, 309-354. Online
- 17.Department of Antiquities, Cyprus (2010). Annual Report of the Department of Antiquities for the year 2009. Nicosia, Department of Antiquities.
- 18.Albert J. Ammerman, Thomas W. Davis (2013). “Island Archaeology and the Origins of Seafaring in the Eastern Mediterranean”. Eurasian Prehistory 10.
- 19.Pavlos Flourentzos (2010). Annual Report of the Department of Antiquities for the year 2008. Nicosia, Printing Office of the Republic of Cyprus.
- 20.Alan Simmons, Rolfe Mandel (2007). “Not such a new light: a response to Ammerman and Noller”. World Archaeology. Online
- 21.A. Simmons (2008). “American researchers and the earliest Cypriots”. Near Eastern Archaeology 71, 21-29.
- 22.A. B. Knapp (2010). “Cyprus's earliest prehistory: Seafarers, foragers and settlers”. Journal of World Prehistory 23, 79-120. Online
- 23.Demetrios Michaelides (ed.) (2014). Medicine and Healing in the Ancient Mediterranean World. Oxford, Oxbow Books.
- 24.A. H. Simmons, K. DiBenedetto, L. Keach (2018). “Neolithic Kritou Marottou-Ais Giorkis, Cyprus: Living in the Uplands”. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 379, 171-195.
- 25.A. Le Brun (2000). “Nouvelles données sur le Néolithique de Chypre”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 30.
- 26.Rolfe D. Mandel, Alan H. Simmons (1997). “Geoarchaeology of the Akrotiri Aetokremnos Rockshelter, Southern Cyprus”. Geoarchaeology: An International Journal 12, 567-605.
- 27.Eric M. Meyers (ed.) (1997). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East. New York, Oxford University Press.
- 28.A. H. Simmons (2009). “Until the cows come home: cattle and Early Neolithic Cyprus”. Before Farming 2009. Online
- 29.A. Simmons (2011). “Re-writing the colonisation of Cyprus: Tales of hippo hunters and cow herders”. The first Mediterranean islanders: Initial occupation and survival strategies, 55-76. University of Oxford School of Archaeology.
- 30.A. H. Simmons, P. Wigand (1999). “The Dating of Akrotiri Aetokremnos”. Faunal Extinction in an Island Society: Pygmy Hippopotamus Hunters of Cyprus, 193-215. New York, Kluwer Academic/Plenum.