Malloura Valley and surrounding locales
the Malloura Valley
The area encompassing the Malloura Valley and the modern village of Athienou is rich in archaeological heritage. Within the Malloura survey area (blue rectangle), an Archaic-Roman rural sanctuary, Archaic-Roman chamber tombs at Mağara Tepeşi, remains of a Roman-Ottoman settlement, and some thirty Venetian period burials have been located. In the outlying areas, earlier excavations by other teams at Golgoi, Agios Photios, and Bamboulari have been undertaken.
Aerial view of sanctuary, 1999.
Rural Sanctuary
Cypro-Archaic - Roman periods
The sanctuary at Athienou Malloura was first discovered in 1862 by the French Mission led by Melcior de Vogüé. Although the results of this excavation were never published, about 70 pieces of sculpture in the Louvre have recently been found to be from Malloura. Later, the site was robbed by looters, who exported hundreds of statues from Cyprus illegally. In 1991 the sanctuary was relocated during the Athienou Archaeological Project's first season of excavation. There, the AAP exposed bedrock containing both Cypro-Archaic and Cypro-Classical artifacts as much as 2.5 m below the surface. Exposed potions of the sanctuary walls reveal that the enclosed area was 400 sq m, thus making it one of the largest rural sanctuaries in Cyprus. Architectural remains from the later phase include two long peribolos walls which meet at right angles in the corner of a sacred enclosed area. In earlier phases, several Archaic and Classical wall segments were found, which were built directly on the bedrock. The major archeological finds include many limestone statues ranging in size from only a few centimeters to over life size. There are also Cypro-Archaic and Cypro-Classical terracotta figurines of helmeted warriors, chariots, animals, decorated and plain pottery, limestone utensils (offering vessels, lids), and a few bronze and iron artifacts. The majority of the statues are of male figures or divinities such as Zeus/Baal-Hammon, Herakles-Melqart, Apollo, and Pan.
tomb 27
Chamber tombs of Mağara Tepesi
Cypro-Archaic - Roman periods
The rock-cut tombs of Mağara Tepesi are located north west of the Malloura site. Locals will tell that as recently as the 1960's, the hill was dotted with small tombs, which were destroyed by looters, bulldozing, and plowing. The AAP excavations of the tombs focused on two main areas, the northwest summit of the hill, and the lower northeastern slope. The top of the hill produced four looted chamber tombs consisting of sloping passageways through havara and conglomerate which ended in circular burial chambers dug out of a layer of greenish marl. Excavating the bottom of the hill exposed four large tombs cut into huge pieces of white chalk. The construction plan of these was a steeped dromos leading down to a single chamber with three benches cut into the rock. The largest of the tombs, tomb 27, had a stepped sunken forecourt, and a doorway small side bordered by two chambers or
loculi. Large numbers of artifacts were recovered from the excavation: silver and bronze coins, scraps of metal vessels and nails, gold and silver finger rings and earrings, a gold jeweled necklace, local and imported lamps, and ceramic vessels dating to the Hellenistic-early Roman periods. The quantity and temporal range found in the tombs suggests that the tombs were used for generations by extended families. In tomb 27, nearly 10,000 potsherds and skeletal material from as many as 100 people were found. In 1995 a rock-cut cistern was found west of tomb 28. The only artifacts found in the cistern were plain ceramics, but it may relate to Roman funerary practices.
excavation unit 2: industrial structure of undetermined function
Settlement
Roman - Ottoman periods
Settlement remains of the Roman through early Byzantine periods were
excavated on the south slopes of the knoll in EU's 3 and 5. Following the long
abandonment of the site during the Arab raids, the settlement was evidently re-inhabited in the fourteenth century, and remains of this settlement have been
located directly above the Roman remains in EU 3, as well as elsewhere. The
settlement seems to have thrived during the Venetian occupation (1489-1571).
In addition to the Venetian burials (see below), a large industrial structure has
been excavated in EU 2. While its precise function remains elusive, its unique system of substantial stone foundations suggest that it may have been used for the processing of flax. The settlement declined during the Ottoman rule and was abandoned during the nineteenth century.
excavation units 3 and 5: remains of settlement from Roman periood to Venetian rule
excavation unit 6: venetian period burial with sgraffito bowl in situ
Venetian Period Burials
The remains of over twenty-two individuals were excavated in a twenty-five
square meter area in EU 6 (though the cemetery seems to have extend well beyond the excavated zone). Though significantly disturbed by later burials, plow and bulldozer, these pit burials were clearly oriented east-west, and included few grave goods, such as glazed sgraffito bowls found in the pelvic region.
