An archaeological dig in Palaepaphos has unveiled ancient Cypriot writing on a wall dating back to the 6th century BC, as announced by the Department of Antiquities on Wednesday.
The discovery, made in the Kouklia-Martsello area, has sparked significant interest, anticipating further insights from the inscription’s study.
The 2024 excavation concentrated on a monument located north of an impressive 186-meter P-shaped wall at the site, oriented towards the sea. Initially believed to be part of a fortification serving as a defensive tower, recent excavations suggest the structure is likely separate and of a devotional nature.
Earlier digs have established that the site was originally founded during the Late Cypriot III period (12th-11th centuries BC), then fell into disrepair before undergoing restoration in the Cypro-Archaic period (6th century BC). Notably, representations of two engraved ships, bearing similarities to those found in Kition, were discovered last year on the exterior of what the department described as an “enigmatic structure.” In 2024, another ship was identified, though its excavation is yet to be completed.
The site has been explored since the 1950s, beginning with a British expedition, followed by a University of Cyprus team between 2006 and 2008, which revealed the 186-meter wall. However, the dating and purpose of the wall remain unresolved.
During the 2024 excavation season, the focus was on exploring a tunnel cutting through the wall at a depth of 2.3 meters. The function of these tunnels remains enigmatic, though one hypothesis posits they were constructed around 499/498 BC during the Persian siege of Palaepaphos.
For the fourth consecutive year, a team of undergraduate and postgraduate students from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) has conducted work at the site. They plan to return next year for further exploration.
