Mission Statement and research questions
The University of Sydney's Mission to Paphos is committed to best practice archaeological investigations at the World Heritage-listed site of the ancient theatre on behalf of the Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus. Our fundamental research question is to understand the development of the theatre and its architectural expression in ancient Cyprus from the early Hellenistic to later Roman periods and the role of performance within the ancient city. Since the beginning of excavations in 1995 new evidence from the ground has given rise to new research questions and opportunities.
The primary research questions and developing areas of interest for the Australian Mission include:
The primary research questions and developing areas of interest for the Australian Mission include:
- What role did theatre play in ancient Cypriot society?
- Do the architectural changes over the six centuries of use reflect different contemporary values in performance?
- What Ptolemaic Alexandrian influences are visible in the Hellenisitic phases?
- What does the Antonine phase tell us about Paphos' connectedness with the Roman Empire?
- Why does the theatre have 'Charonian steps' and what was their purpose?
- What was the nature of the stage building(s) through the the different phases of the theatre's use?
- What was happening across the entire theatrical precincts? And what can the nymphaeaum (uncovered 2007-12) and paved road tell us about the nature of urbanisation in ancient Nea Paphos?
- How did the Roman water supply operate in the area of the theatre?
- What was the nature of the destruction of the late 4th century AD earthquake?
- What happened on the site after the destruction of the theatre buildings?
- What was the nature of occupation in this area of Nea Paphos in the Late Antique and Medieval periods? And what activities took place here?
- What can the study of ceramics, glass, coins and other small finds across the site tell us about the changes in Paphian society from the early Hellenistic to post Medieval eras?
Excavation Methodologies
The theatre and it's surrounding environs is a large area; and theatre's are notoriously difficult to excavate. When excavations began in 1995 the site was almost completely covered with soil and modern buildings. With limited resources and time each season the Australian Mission has adopted a practice of strategic stratigraphic excavation; that is opening trenches in areas specifically designed to answer particular research questions about the architecture of the theatre or changing activities on the site. As time has gone by, many of the balks between these trenches have been cleared so that the extent of the remains of the theatre are almost completely exposed. At the same time some early trenches were backfilled at the conclusion of research in those areas. A similar method is now being used as we investigate the urban layout of the town to the south of the theatre, and post-theatre activities on the top of Fabrika hill.
Excavation is largely by hand tools (pick and shovels for soil removal, trowels and smaller tools for secure archaeological contexts), but we have used mechanical clearance for top soil and to assist with clearing tumbled stone and rubble. All physical excavation is recorded by the team using dig books and context sheets. Photography, plans and section drawings are important recording tools completed by specialists and advanced student members of the team.
Excavation is largely by hand tools (pick and shovels for soil removal, trowels and smaller tools for secure archaeological contexts), but we have used mechanical clearance for top soil and to assist with clearing tumbled stone and rubble. All physical excavation is recorded by the team using dig books and context sheets. Photography, plans and section drawings are important recording tools completed by specialists and advanced student members of the team.
Material Culture and Analysis
The excavations have uncovered a wide range of finds across every occupation layer including: architectural elements, ceramics, coins, glass, metal objects, mosaics, marble sculpture, animal bones. While excavating the team has also collected soil and archaeo-botanical samples for analysis from key contexts across the site.Excavation is not just about digging but rather about nuanced interpretation of the results, and our team of specialists work closely with conservators, illustrators, photographers and the trench excavators to record, catalogue and understand the excavated material.
All diagnostic items are assigned unique numbers in the project's inventory and catalogued by specialists which forms the basis of further interpretative discussions in our research papers.
All diagnostic items are assigned unique numbers in the project's inventory and catalogued by specialists which forms the basis of further interpretative discussions in our research papers.
Planning for the future
With the permission of the Department of Antiquitiess of Cyprus and with the help of our supporters we intend to continue the Australian excavations in Kato Paphos for many years to come. We will continue to publish our findings of previous and future excavation seasons, and will periodically run study-only seasons, or small seasons focused on a specific research question or area of the site.
Future excavations will continue to explore the development of the ancient theatre and the used of the site after its destruction. An emphais is now bing placed on understanding the theatre's urban context: what was the relationship with the North-East city gate and its nearby thoroughfare. Other structures of the north and south of the theatre are planned to be excavated in future seasons, and the colonnaded Roman road to the south of the theatre will be excavated in its entirety in due course.
Future excavations will continue to explore the development of the ancient theatre and the used of the site after its destruction. An emphais is now bing placed on understanding the theatre's urban context: what was the relationship with the North-East city gate and its nearby thoroughfare. Other structures of the north and south of the theatre are planned to be excavated in future seasons, and the colonnaded Roman road to the south of the theatre will be excavated in its entirety in due course.
publication timeline
The directors and senior research scholars of the team publish findings from the theatre (and associated projects in and around Paphos) regularly in both academic and popular formats. A full list of our publications can be read here. Further publications are currently in press and their publication will be announced on our latest news page.
We are committed to engaging with the scholarly community and sharing our findings and latest ideas and theories as often as possible. However, academic publication is a slow process. Journals and conference proceedings often take longer to reach print than expected and are, much like other forms of print media, exploring new business models in response to growing digital market, which can impact upon print publication timelines.
Our major publication, a multi-volume excavation report covering the first decade and a half of the excavations is currently being compiled. With contributions from many scholars on a range of topics, the editing and completion of these volumes is a painstaking and laborious process. An in print and release date will be announced on out latest news page.
If you have an questions about our findings or publications please contact the project and your questions will be addressed by the appropriate team member or researcher.
We are committed to engaging with the scholarly community and sharing our findings and latest ideas and theories as often as possible. However, academic publication is a slow process. Journals and conference proceedings often take longer to reach print than expected and are, much like other forms of print media, exploring new business models in response to growing digital market, which can impact upon print publication timelines.
Our major publication, a multi-volume excavation report covering the first decade and a half of the excavations is currently being compiled. With contributions from many scholars on a range of topics, the editing and completion of these volumes is a painstaking and laborious process. An in print and release date will be announced on out latest news page.
If you have an questions about our findings or publications please contact the project and your questions will be addressed by the appropriate team member or researcher.