Akamas peninsula: Beads, bone, and shell artifacts have been excavated at a newly identified archaeological site in Drouseia - Skloinikia, located in the northwest sector of the Akamas Peninsula. These findings, estimated to be around 8,000 years old, were part of an October 2025 excavation according to the Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the excavation was led by Dr. Theodora Moutsiou of the University of Cyprus, in collaboration with Dr. Christian Reepmeyer from the German Archaeological Institute. The mission included undergraduate and postgraduate students from various universities. The work is part of a larger project, "Exploring the role of coasts in the early prehistory of Cyprus," funded by the A.G. Leventis Foundation Overseas.
The 2025 campaign builds on previous work, including a geophysical survey by the University of Cyprus, which identified magnetic anomalies now being explored through systematic excavation. Five trenches revealed a rich assemblage, including stone, beads, shells, and bone artifacts. The primary goal was to examine the site's stratigraphy, formation processes, and collect material for analysis to understand the site's extent and timeline.
Hundreds of stone artifacts were recorded, provisionally dated to the Terminal Pleistocene - Early Holocene (12-8 ka), supported by initial radiocarbon dating to approximately 8,000 years ago. Nine new trenches were excavated, with one reaching bedrock to understand site formation, while others were dug to clarify a magnetic anomaly. This excavation revealed an in-situ knapping floor, providing insights into the activities at Skloinikia.
The excavation also included an underwater survey, assessing the potential for cultural material preservation. Divers Filip H¡jek and Christos Patsalides confirmed a complex maritime landscape, suggesting further underwater investigations are warranted. The ongoing research aims to explore human-sea relationships and coastline changes, with another mission planned for September 2026.
The Skloinikia site significantly contributes to understanding Cyprus's early Neolithic past, positioning the island as a dynamic component in the Eastern Mediterranean interaction sphere. The continuing investigations help define prehistoric coastal community developments, human migration, and island settlement patterns over time.