Arediou-Vouppes (Lithosouros) A Late Bronze Age Farming Community on Cyprus: Louise Steel

Study Season 2007

The primary focus of the study season was the workroom (109) identified in Building 1 in 2006, in particular the group of utilitarian ceramics found in situ on the floor. Six semi-restorable vessels have been identified, including a rare Plain ware basin, several Plain ware jugs, a small short-necked pithos and a “Canaanite jar”. These vessels seem to suggest that storage and processing of a liquid commodity was an important activity within the building. Restoration of these vessels is a priority for the 2008 excavation season. A sounding immediately to the south of the workroom allowed us to explore an unusual bench-like feature built from flat slabs.

The construction of this bench recalls the flat stand around the well in Building 2 and a work area (75) identified in Building 1. The materials used are extraneous to the site: a possible location several kilometres away for these slabs has been suggested by the villagers of Arediou, this will need to be verified in the coming seasons.

In December 2007 we completed a geophysical survey of the site. The resulting gradiometer map (with overlays of the survey and excavation data) will provide us with preliminary data concerning the physical relationship between Buildings 1 and 2, as well as the various structures identified further to the west in 2005.