Bellapais Vounous
An important Early and Middle Bronze Age cemetery site on the northern coast of Cyprus, known for its rich ceramic assemblages and detailed insights into ancient funerary practices.
History and Excavations
Bellapais Vounous is an archaeological site on the northern coast of Cyprus, important for understanding the island's Early and Middle Bronze Ages. The site is known for its extensive cemeteries, which provide detailed information about the funerary practices and social structures of the period. While settlements from this era are more common in central and southern Cyprus, the archaeological record of burials is dominated by large cemeteries like Bellapais Vounous.
Archaeological work began at Vounous in the early 20th century. Porphyrios Dikaios of the Department of Antiquities conducted excavations, publishing his findings in 1940. The Swedish Cyprus Expedition also carried out work at the site in 1929-1930. These early expeditions recovered a large quantity of material that helped form the basis for studying the Early and Middle Bronze Age in Cyprus. Today, artifacts from these tombs are housed in museums around the world.
Geographical Location
Bellapais Vounous is located on the north coast of Cyprus. The name follows a common Cypriot practice of combining the name of the nearest village (Bellapais) with a local toponym (Vounous).
A nearby site, Bellapais-Vounorouthkia, located about half a mile to the east, yielded a sherd of Red Polished (Philia) ware. The Philia culture represents a transitional phase between the Chalcolithic and the Early Bronze Age. The presence of Philia material in this region suggests either an earlier Philia presence alongside the main Early Cypriot cemeteries at Vounous or the settlement of culturally distinct groups at the same time.
Chronology
The occupation at Bellapais Vounous dates to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, covering the Early Cypriot (EC) and Middle Cypriot (MC) periods. This places the site chronologically after the island's Chalcolithic period (c. 3800–2300 BC). Other sites like Sotira Kaminoudhia are thought to have been first inhabited during the Philia culture phase, making them potentially contemporary with the earliest activity at Vounous. The main periods of use for the cemeteries are Vounous A (predominantly ECI) and Vounous B (ECII–MCII).
Cemetery and Burial Customs
Bellapais Vounous is primarily a cemetery site. The tombs were typically rock-cut, requiring more labor than the simple pit graves found at some earlier Chalcolithic sites. These tombs had several distinct features:
- Apertures: Oval or sub-rectangular openings cut into the rock surface.
- Capstones: Unworked flat limestone slabs used to seal the tomb opening.
- Capstone Cuts: Worked depressions in the rock surface designed to hold the capstone securely.
- Shafts: Vertical passages with oval or sub-rectangular openings, widening towards the base. Depths ranged from 0.52 to 2.57 meters.
- Pits: Varied pits with oval or sub-rectangular openings and straight or widening walls.
- Supplementary Chambers: Smaller chambers cut from the base of a main tomb shaft. Only one example has been found at the site.
Many tombs were looted in antiquity, but well-preserved burials have provided information on burial customs. At Vounous A (mostly ECI), about two-thirds of the deceased were placed on their left side in a flexed position. At Vounous B (ECII–MCII), most were laid on their backs. Small bowls were sometimes placed in the hands of the deceased.
The presence of disarticulated skeletons suggests that tombs were often reopened to make space for new burials. In Tomb 164A at Vounous A, two nearly complete skeletons were found without their skulls, which had been moved to another part of the chamber. This points to complex rituals that took place over time within the same tomb.
Grave Goods
The tombs at Bellapais Vounous contained a wide variety of grave goods. The most common find is Red Polished (RP) pottery, with smaller amounts of Black Polished and White Painted wares also present. The consistency of the pottery fabric suggests it was made locally. The ceramic shapes include bowls, jugs, and storage jars, often with elaborate and ritualistic designs that distinguish them from pottery at other sites.
Other grave goods included copper-based objects like weapons, tools, and ornaments, as well as spindle whorls and whetstones. The remains of sheep, goats, and cattle were also found, likely from funerary feasts or sacrifices. These items offer a glimpse into the daily life, technology, and economy of the community.