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
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