Agrokipia Paleokamina

History of Agrokipia Paleokamina

Agrokipia Paleokamina, an archaeological locality within the Nicosia district of central Cyprus, is a site of significance, primarily for its contribution to understanding the Cypro-PPNA (Pre-Pottery Neolithic A) period. For those unacquainted with the deep prehistory of the island, comprehending the importance of Agrokipia Paleokamina requires an initial grasp of its chronological placement and the nature of the archaeological evidence it presents. Unlike later, more visibly impressive sites, Agrokipia Paleokamina is largely characterized by ephemeral remains, necessitating a focus on the fundamental data it offers regarding early human adaptive strategies in an island context.

Geographical and Environmental Context

Agrokipia Paleokamina is situated in the eastern foothills of the Troodos mountains, specifically located on a small saddle between two low hills, to the east of the Gialias River, between the modern villages of Ayia Varvara and Mathiati. This geographical positioning places it in an inland, upland environment, which contrasts with many other prominent early Cypriot prehistoric sites often found in coastal settings or major river valleys. For example, well-known Aceramic Neolithic sites such as Khirokitia Vouni and Kalavasos Tenta are located near the southern coast. Similarly, the Lemba cluster of sites, including Lemba Lakkous and Kissonerga Mylouthkia, are in the Ktima Lowlands near the western coast. Historically, Cypriot archaeological investigations have tended to concentrate on sites with substantial architectural features, which can inadvertently de-emphasize localities like Agrokipia Paleokamina that primarily yield surface artifact scatters.

The selection of this specific location by early human groups was likely driven by practical considerations essential for mobile populations. The area around Agrokipia Paleokamina offers good access to chert sources and a reliable water supply. Such access to lithic raw materials would have been a critical determinant for establishing temporary activity areas, facilitating the production of stone tools necessary for subsistence. While detailed palaeoenvironmental data for Agrokipia Paleokamina are not extensively published, comparisons with other upland sites suggest past landscapes may have differed from current conditions. For instance, the Xeropotamos River Valley, another inland region, is thought to have been more forested in prehistory, with evidence of clearance for settlement. These environmental characteristics directly influenced the economic and social organization of the early inhabitants.

The Cypro-PPNA: A Critical Period of Occupation

The significance of Agrokipia Paleokamina is best understood within the context of the Cypro-PPNA period. For many years, a notable chronological lacuna existed in the archaeological record of Cyprus. This gap spanned approximately 3,000 years, from the earliest undisputed human presence at Akrotiri Aetokremnos (dating to the late 10th millennium cal. BCE) to the commencement of the Aceramic Neolithic Khirokitia Culture (circa 7th millennium cal. BCE). This apparent hiatus fueled debates regarding the continuity of human occupation on the island.

The identification and investigation of sites like Ayia Varvara Asprokremnos, Ayios Tychonas Klimonas, and implicitly, Agrokipia Paleokamina, have been instrumental in bridging this perceived chronological gap. These sites have provided substantial evidence for human occupation in the 10th and 9th millennia cal. BCE, thereby integrating Cyprus more seamlessly into the broader Early Neolithic developments of the Near East. This period, often termed the "Akrotiri Phase" in its earliest manifestation and subsequently the Cypro-PPNA, indicates a more continuous and intricate pattern of early human settlement than previously understood, effectively dispelling the notion of Cyprus as an isolated "backwater" in its earliest prehistory.

The economic foundation of Cypro-PPNA groups was primarily based on the exploitation of wild resources. These communities did not engage in large-scale agriculture or animal husbandry involving morphologically domesticated species in the manner of later Neolithic societies. Evidence from sites like Ayios Tychonas Klimonas suggests the cultivation of wild grains and hunting of wild pigs. At Ayia Varvara Asprokremnos, pigs constituted a predominant part of the faunal assemblage, indicating a hunting focus on these animals. These subsistence strategies align with broader patterns observed in contemporary mainland PPNA cultures.

Furthermore, the lithic industries evident at Cypro-PPNA sites, including Agrokipia Paleokamina by association, exhibit parallels with contemporary traditions on the adjacent Levantine mainland. The recovery of imported obsidian at sites such as Kissonerga Mylouthkia and Ayia Varvara Asprokremnos reinforces the existence of external contacts, indicating that despite its insular nature, early Cypriot populations were not entirely isolated from broader regional developments. Objects like shaft-straighteners, which show incised lattice patterns found at Asprokremnos, exemplify shared symbolic systems between Cyprus and the Early Neolithic Near East. This suggests a level of connectivity and cultural exchange, even if indirect, that contributed to the island's early development.

Archaeological Evidence: Insights from Surface Scatters

Agrokipia Paleokamina is primarily known through surface surveys, having yielded lithic scatters rather than extensive, standing architectural features. This form of archaeological signature is typical for early prehistoric sites inhabited by mobile hunter-gatherer or forager groups, whose activities often leave ephemeral traces. For Agrokipia Paleokamina, the analysis of the collected cultural material, predominantly chipped stone artifacts, suggests temporary use, likely for specialized activities rather than sustained, permanent occupation.

The ephemeral character of these early occupations is a consistent observation across the earliest phases of Cypriot prehistory. For example, Ayia Varvara Asprokremnos, which has undergone more intensive investigation, revealed shallow occupation deposits, lightly built structures, and an absence of formal burials or midden deposits. This evidence led researchers to propose seasonal or periodic occupation. In contrast, Ayios Tychonas Klimonas presents more substantial architecture, including a large circular structure interpreted as a communal building, suggesting a more permanent settlement. Agrokipia Paleokamina, as a surface scatter site, likely functioned as a temporary camp or a specialized task area within a broader pattern of mobility, fitting the description of "lithic scatter sites" located in the Troodos foothills. These locations, chosen for their access to chert and water, are interpreted as sites of short-lived activities such as quarrying, knapping, tool production, and possibly plant processing.

The inherent limitations of surface survey data preclude definitive conclusions about the full range of activities or the precise seasonality and duration of occupation at Agrokipia Paleokamina. Without stratified deposits and detailed excavation contexts, the reconstruction of specific human behaviors remains largely inferential. As a general methodological principle in early prehistoric archaeology, robust claims for occupation require identifiable artifacts, clear stratigraphy, and reliable absolute dating. While Agrokipia Paleokamina’s existence points to the presence of early human activity, the nature of that activity is often understood by drawing parallels with better-preserved and more extensively excavated sites.

Agrokipia Paleokamina in Regional Context

Agrokipia Paleokamina is not an isolated discovery but forms part of a cluster of identified inland Cypro-PPNA sites in central Cyprus. Other localities mentioned in its vicinity include Politiko Keladhoni, Agrokipia Kottafoi, Pera Chorio Moutti, Alambra Koundourka, Alambra Spileos, Alambra Foradomantres, Alambra Mouttes, Ayia Varvara Pervolia, and Ayia Varvara Poupes. The collective identification of these sites, largely through survey, has been pivotal in refining the understanding of early human population distribution across the Cypriot landscape.

Collectively, these sites are considered to represent "the first solid evidence for a more permanent occupation sequence on Cyprus". This statement signifies a crucial shift from earlier interpretations that proposed isolated or ephemeral visits to the island. While individual sites like Agrokipia Paleokamina may have served as temporary encampments, their widespread presence across the landscape indicates a more established pattern of human movement and resource exploitation, consistent with a population adapting to and integrating within the island's environment. This network of sites, even if ephemerally occupied, suggests a successful strategy for utilizing diverse ecological zones, from coastal areas to the mountainous foothills.

The study of such sites is fundamental for reconstructing regional settlement patterns and understanding the adaptive flexibility of early human groups. It moves beyond a sole focus on large, architecturally prominent sites, which have often dominated Cypriot archaeological discourse. By documenting all discovered sites, including those presenting as small artifact scatters, archaeologists gain a more comprehensive understanding of past human landscapes. This methodology, exemplified by projects like the Vasilikos Valley Project which identified numerous sites from different periods, allows for a more nuanced interpretation of how prehistoric populations interacted with their environment over extended periods.

Significance and Future Research

The primary significance of Agrokipia Paleokamina, and the cluster of sites it belongs to, lies in its contribution to bridging the chronological gap in Cypriot prehistory. Its presence, as part of the Cypro-PPNA, firmly establishes a continuous human occupation during the 10th and 9th millennia BCE, challenging earlier models that proposed a long hiatus after the Akrotiri Phase. This revised understanding has profound implications for our perspectives on early seafaring, island colonization, and the processes of Neolithization throughout the wider Mediterranean basin.

For scholars interested in Cypriot prehistory, Agrokipia Paleokamina represents a subtle yet crucial element of the early archaeological record. Its existence, even as a lithic scatter, testifies to the presence of human activity and resource use in the Cypriot interior during a period that was once largely unknown. It underscores the adaptive capacity of early populations in exploiting diverse inland resources, particularly raw materials for tools, as they integrated into a previously uninhabited island ecosystem.

Future archaeological investigations at Agrokipia Paleokamina and similar sites would ideally involve more intensive, targeted excavations. While surface surveys provide valuable initial data, the current lack of deeply stratified contexts and detailed published reports for Agrokipia Paleokamina limits a comprehensive understanding of specific activities, site formation processes, and precise occupational sequences. Advanced analytical techniques, such as micromorphology, which have been successfully applied at other Cypriot sites like Souskiou Laona and Erimi, could provide high-resolution data on microscopic properties of sediments and bioarchaeological remains. Such detailed investigations are essential for transforming these preliminary "hints" of early cultural association into robust evidence, thereby further elucidating the nature of human presence and adaptation in Cyprus during the early Holocene. By integrating broad-scale survey with targeted high-resolution excavation, the archaeological community can continue to unravel the intricate details of Cyprus’s deep past, with sites like Agrokipia Paleokamina serving as foundational data points in this ongoing research.