Search the site...

Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project
  • Home
  • The Project
    • Our approaches
    • Visualising the Site >
      • Paphos Theatre in VR
      • STARC 3D Visualisation >
        • STARC 3D Visualisation
      • Drone Footage 2017
      • Drone Footage 2018
      • Orthographic
    • 2018 Public Lecture
  • Archaeological History
  • The Team
    • Join as a Student team member
    • Volunteer Program
    • The Team in pictures
  • Research Projects
    • Zooarchaeology at Paphos
    • Recycling Paphos
    • Digital Artistic Documentation
  • Publications
    • Posters
  • Paphos Theatre Education Blog
  • The Archive
    • The Archive: Season reports and media >
      • 2019 Season Press Release
      • 2017 Season Report
    • The Archive: News and Events
    • The Archive: Cultural collaborations
  • Merchandise
  • Project Patron
  • Latest news
  • Contact Us
  • Support Us
  • Nea Paphos Colloquium III
    • Conference program
    • Abstracts
  • Images
    • Drone
    • VR
    • Excavation
    • Griffin Inv 9101
    • Griffin 9144
    • Aerial
  • Puzzles
  • Dig Life
  • Home
  • The Project
    • Our approaches
    • Visualising the Site >
      • Paphos Theatre in VR
      • STARC 3D Visualisation >
        • STARC 3D Visualisation
      • Drone Footage 2017
      • Drone Footage 2018
      • Orthographic
    • 2018 Public Lecture
  • Archaeological History
  • The Team
    • Join as a Student team member
    • Volunteer Program
    • The Team in pictures
  • Research Projects
    • Zooarchaeology at Paphos
    • Recycling Paphos
    • Digital Artistic Documentation
  • Publications
    • Posters
  • Paphos Theatre Education Blog
  • The Archive
    • The Archive: Season reports and media >
      • 2019 Season Press Release
      • 2017 Season Report
    • The Archive: News and Events
    • The Archive: Cultural collaborations
  • Merchandise
  • Project Patron
  • Latest news
  • Contact Us
  • Support Us
  • Nea Paphos Colloquium III
    • Conference program
    • Abstracts
  • Images
    • Drone
    • VR
    • Excavation
    • Griffin Inv 9101
    • Griffin 9144
    • Aerial
  • Puzzles
  • Dig Life

education blog

The First Day of Digging

8/10/2010

0 Comments

 
 

After a day of cleaning on site, we now have officially begun the Paphos 2010 season.  Soil was broken on the five trenches we are opening this year.  Each trench is specifically located to answer specific questions about the architecture of the ancient theatre of Nea Paphos and of the surrounding urban landscape.

Trench 10A is located at the eastern most edge of the ancient theatre’s eastern parodos (entranceway).  It is designed to explore the eastern edge of the theatre and to ask questions about the movement of peoples through the northeastern quarter of the ancient city.

Trench 10B is in the massive cut into the bedrock of the western parodos.  This area had been previously explored in 2002 and in 2008, and is little understood at this point, although it has proved to be rich in finds so far.

Trenches 10C and 10D are located on two sides of an ancient structure located to the south of the theatre in the eastern area in 2008 and 2009.  A 21-metre long, 5-metre wide structure with a plain mosaic floor, we have been speculating that this may be a nymphaeum or some other form of fountain house.  Given the area of excavations by the Australian mission would have been located near an ancient city gate, the supply of fresh water to travelers would have been a vital architectural element.  What is yet to be fully determined is the linkage between the theatre and the nymphaeum?

Both trenches are designed to answer specific questions about the relationship of this building with the surrounding areas, including a major east-west running road to the south of the nymphaeum, as well as a passageway to the west of the structure which would have served as part of the entrance into the eastern parodos of the theatre.  The flow of pedestrian traffic would have been important for allowing access to the theatre structure by audience members and performers alike.

Trench 10E is a small exploratory area in the western cavea (seating area), quite a small area of excavation but an important one.  The aim of explore for any traces of early architectural evidence of the theatre.  Most ancient theatre sites were renovated or remodeled several times during its usage, and most surviving theatre display the later Roman structures, not the theatres of the earlier Hellenistic or Classical periods.  Paphos is no different, but perhaps there are traces to be found here that provide a glimpse into the first phases of the theatre of the capital of Cyprus.

Trench 10F is a long sondage, designed to explore the relationship between the rear of the Roman stage building and the same road that is being explored in Trench 10C.

We hope you can follow our trenches as they develop, and hear the stories from people excavating them.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Bloggers

    Each season our team including the directors, students, architects, volunteers, ceramicists and other finds specialists will blog about the day to day sweat and adventures that come with life on an archaeological dig.

    Each post will be signed off by the team member and together these posts will represent the variety of expertise and experiences that happen when working overseas on a dig. 

    ​Please join in and ask any questions about the archaeological excavations, research, field methods, the island of Cyprus, food on a dig, or anything else you’re interested to know in our comments section.

    Archives

    November 2019
    October 2019
    November 2017
    October 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    March 2016
    September 2014
    August 2014
    August 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010

    Categories

    All
    Blogs
    Cypriot Archaeology
    Other Foreign Teams
    Photographs Of Excavation
    Pottery Analysis
    Science In Archaeology
    Videos

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly