Preparing to return to Paphos for my second season, I was all anticipation and excitement. I was full of memories of a superb five weeks in 2012, full of good people, a happy palate, and a superb site.  After less than two weeks, the site certainly meets expectations, yet again. It may be a little on the warm side, but nothing a post-excavation swim can’t fix. We get so spoiled at this site- and in Cyprus in general- with the astonishing abundance of archaeology and history, you have to remind yourself you only have five weeks to take it all in.

            Onsite, I’m fortunate enough to be excavating up at the top of the cavea. We may get a fair bit of sun “upstairs”, but my goodness the view can’t be beat. Overlooking the rest of the site, the Paphos Archaeological Park, and the Sea, I wouldn’t have it any other way; this site is beautiful. And exciting. The trenches have been a little reluctant to give up their secrets thus far, but we know the information we seek is there, beneath just another (or maybe one more after that) layer of soil. Nine working days in we have trenches running in multiple directions, with pottery, walls, and a bit of bedrock, and who knows what may come to light tomorrow. The volunteers “downstairs” may have shade and a Roman road, but we all know who the lucky ones are.

            I waxed poetic about this last season as well, but aside from excavating, of course, one of my favorite things to do out here is head to the sea and jump in after a good day’s work. It may not be a pristine white sand beach, but jumping in at the bay in town is heaven, a miracle cure for any sore joints. And when else do you get to jump in the Mediterranean after work?! In Paphos, that’s where.

            We’re all busy making plans to explore the island on our weekends, and that will all be very exciting, from diving, to sightseeing in Nicosia, to beach bum days. But what ultimately now makes Cyprus for me, and will keep luring me back, is this site. Here’s to many more seasons.

Gabrielle

An essential part of any season is a visit by the team to the Paphos District Archaeological Museum run by the Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus.
It is a chance to understand the material culture of the western coast of the island from the Neolithic to the Crusader period and for new team members to begin to get their eye trained to recognise shapes and design that we will find on site in coming weeks in sherd form.  Hellenistic, Roman and Medieval ceramics are studied carefully by team members so that they recognise materials on site.

Paphos Archaeological Museum

Corinthian capital

Our first day on site for the 2014 season begins in a heatwave – it is over 35 degrees as I write this.  So we have to take it easy.  Today was all about preparation anyway, so preparing ourselves for the heat does help.

The day begins at 7am with site induction – a Workplace Health and Safety session, and a discussion on the archaeological methodology we use and the process of recording trenches as we follow.  It’s a good chance for new team members to ask questions.

Its then onto site this morning to begin clearing the area of our two trenches and retrieving tools that were stored away safely at the end of our last field season.  They haven’t been used in almost two years so will require cleaning.  We also made contact with the staff of the Paphos Museum to let them know of what work we are doing this year (and catch up on gossip!).

In the hot sun, by the time lunch came around at noon we were exhausted but well satisfied with our progress and ready to break ground tomorrow.

We will open two trenches in 2014, one will be called 14A and will be placed on the top of the cavea (seating area) continuing work started in 2012.  The  second trench (14B) will be at the south of the site, exploring the southern edge of the Roman road we have been investigating in previous seasons.

We finish the evening with a walking tour of the site, so new team members can see the archaeological evidence of the phases of useage on the site from the third century BC through to the fourth century AD, as well as the Medieval and Ottoman eras that they will get to know so well in coming days.  It’s a good chance for people to clarify our knowledge of the site and ask questions so that they feel confident with what we do know about the site (and what questions the project still has to answer!).  Then our first team dinner at a local taverna.  Yum!

Our work is only possible because of the support of the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens and of course the Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus for whom we are privileged to be able to explore the history of this remarkable island.  We can’t wait to keep you up to date over the next five weeks with our work.