Preliminary data suggest that people of all ages – from newborns to adults – were buried in the tombs.
An international expedition explored the site of the Dromolaksia-Vizakia necropolis, a port city of the late Bronze Age in southern Cyprus. The uncovered burials are notable for the large number of 'imports' – items made in various parts of the ancient world.
Dromolaksia-Vizakia (also known as Hala Sultan Tekke, after the nearby mosque) was a major urban center covering approximately 25 hectares. It emerged around 1650–1630 BC, during the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age. The city's wealth was based on the production and export of copper. It thrived for nearly five centuries until it was destroyed and abandoned around 1150 BC.
During the excavations, archaeologists discovered a well and two tombs that date back to around the 14th century BC. The ceilings of the tombs collapsed, thereby 'sealing' the finds. Among them were local pottery, tools, and jewelry, but, as noted, the 'assortment' of imported items is particularly impressive.
The richly decorated pottery comes from mainland Greece, Crete, and other Aegean islands, while ivory items and alabaster vessels were brought from Egypt, dark blue lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, reddish-brown carnelian from India, and amber from the Baltic region. Some of these goods likely reached Cyprus not directly, but through a complex trade network and 'intermediaries' – Mycenaean, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian cultures.
Archaeologists particularly highlight the pottery from the Nuragic culture of Sardinia. Previously, copper ingots from Cyprus were found on this island, so the discovery of vessels shows the reverse side of the exchange.
Stratigraphic analysis revealed that the tombs were used over several generations, possibly for more than a century. Remains from earlier burials were carefully moved to make room for new interments. Such careful reuse of burial structures allows specialists to track how burial inventory changes and to draw conclusions about the chronology of burials.
Preliminary data suggest that people of all ages – from newborns to adults – were buried in the tombs. However, the deceased were rarely older than 40 years at the time of death. Archaeologists believe that the prolonged use of the tombs reflects a strong sense of continuity and kinship. The wealth of finds and the large number of 'imports' indicate that the burial structures belonged to members of the elite, who were likely involved in the export of copper and international trade. The preference for certain foreign goods in specific tombs may indicate the specialization of these traders or the presence of foreign communities in the city.
