Larnaca:A Byzantine church temple and a clay-processing tank have been uncovered during the 2026 excavation at the site of Kophinou Agios Herakleios and Menogeia-Limnes in the Larnaca district.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the excavations were conducted by the Archaeological Research Unit and the Archaeological Summer Field School of the Department of History and Archaeology at the University of Cyprus, under the project titled 'Settled and Sacred Landscapes of Cyprus' (SeSaLaC), from June 15th to July 24th, 2026. The project was overseen by Athanasios Vionis, Associate Professor at the University of Cyprus, and Dr. Doria Nicolaou.

The Department of Antiquities reported that the 2026 excavation at Kophinou Agios Herakleios revealed significant findings inside the previously uncovered single-aisled church. Notably, a near-complete floor made of large gypsum slabs was uncovered, along with the position of the templon marked by lime-mortar strips on the floor. The presence of a dome, characterized by curved voussoirs forming part of the dome's drum and a square bay, was considered a key finding of the season.

Further excavations revealed fragments of non-figurative frescoes on the south wall, and a smaller secondary apse within the sanctuary area. Ceramic evidence suggested the church's abandonment and partial collapse occurred in the mid-14th century, with indications of non-liturgical use from the late 14th to mid-16th century. The surrounding area was confirmed to have had a funerary character during the Late Middle Ages.

The preliminary dating of the complex proposes four successive building phases, beginning with an early Byzantine three-aisled basilica and concluding with the small barrel-vaulted chapel of Agios Herakleios post-16th century. The findings mark the first time in Cyprus that an organized cemetery in continuous use from the 6th to the 16th century, along with evidence for cult activity during the 8th-10th centuries, are documented archaeologically.

At Menogeia Limnes, five new trenches provided insights into the early Byzantine pottery workshop, with a built clay-processing tank being the most significant discovery. A water channel was found feeding into the basin, revealing an organized production facility. The ceramic evidence spans three successive phases of workshop activity.

The results of the 2026 excavation season are considered significant for understanding rural and religious life, funerary customs, and pottery production in Byzantine and medieval Cyprus, particularly during the 8th-10th centuries, a period often termed the 'Dark Ages' in Byzantine Cyprus.