The Harbour at Aphendrika During The Early Byzantine Period and the Maritime Activity on the North-Eastern Coast of Cyprus

Marko Kiessel; Ahmet Murat Saymanlıer; Meray Taluğ

Article Details

The Harbour at Aphendrika During The Early Byzantine Period and the Maritime Activity on the North-Eastern Coast of Cyprus

Authors:

Marko Kiessel | Ahmet Murat Saymanlıer | Meray Taluğ

Publisher:

Mersin University

Main Topics:

Archaeological Science | Archaeology of Europe | The Mediterranean and The Levant

Journal:

OLBA Vol.32 Issue XXXIII, pp.143-171

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

8/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001315168

pISSN:

1301-7667

Keywords:

Abstract:

 This paper offers new insights into the under-researched rural maritime si- tes of Cypruss north-eastern coast of the Early Byzantine period. It focuses on the likewise under-researched coastal site at Aphendrika and its natural harbour bay in the eastern part of the Karpas peninsula, which can probably be identified with the ancient Hellenistic Urania. Its few built and rock-cut harbour facilities and the remains of the rural economy, such as weightstones and press-beds linked to olive oil production, were investigated and docu- mented by non-invasive methods, by a ground- and aerial survey. A conside- rable amount of surface sherds from the harbour bay, its shallow water and the bays close surroundings were rescued from further destruction and disap- pearance, transferred to the archaeological depot, documented and typologi- cally classified. Based on a few limited earlier studies about the historic site at Aphendrika, on the analysis of other ancient Cypriot sites with harbours or anchorages and on our own site analyses the paper argues that the har- bour and its largely unknown settlement served as a gateway emporion which connected the coast with its local hinterland and attracted especially coastal maritime traffic. The amphora spectrum is predominantly Eastern Mediterra- nean, among which the Late Roman Amphora 1 dominates. Abundant traces of lever-and-screw presses attest to a surplus production which certainly was exported through the harbour. The rural economy was probably controlled by a local elite. This elite who has similarly been attested for Early Byzantine sites at the south coast of Cyprus materializes through two 6th-century chur- ches and a single marble pilaster capital which might derive from a wealthy rural estate. Finally, the results from Aphendrika were embedded into data gained from a map-, literature- and physical survey concerning previously known and potentially new ancient harbour or anchorage sites on the nort h-eastern coast of Cyprus, between Kyrenia and Cape Andreas. The identification of potentially new sites is based on specifically developed indicative criteria, leading to the conclusion that the maritime activity on the islands north coast was more intensi- ve than described in previous scholarship.

 This paper offers new insights into the under-researched rural maritime si- tes of Cypruss north-eastern coast of the Early Byzantine period. It focuses on the likewise under-researched coastal site at Aphendrika and its natural harbour bay in the eastern part of the Karpas peninsula, which can probably be identified with the ancient Hellenistic Urania. Its few built and rock-cut harbour facilities and the remains of the rural economy, such as weightstones and press-beds linked to olive oil production, were investigated and docu- mented by non-invasive methods, by a ground- and aerial survey. A conside- rable amount of surface sherds from the harbour bay, its shallow water and the bays close surroundings were rescued from further destruction and disap- pearance, transferred to the archaeological depot, documented and typologi- cally classified. Based on a few limited earlier studies about the historic site at Aphendrika, on the analysis of other ancient Cypriot sites with harbours or anchorages and on our own site analyses the paper argues that the har- bour and its largely unknown settlement served as a gateway emporion which connected the coast with its local hinterland and attracted especially coastal maritime traffic. The amphora spectrum is predominantly Eastern Mediterra- nean, among which the Late Roman Amphora 1 dominates. Abundant traces of lever-and-screw presses attest to a surplus production which certainly was exported through the harbour. The rural economy was probably controlled by a local elite. This elite who has similarly been attested for Early Byzantine sites at the south coast of Cyprus materializes through two 6th-century chur- ches and a single marble pilaster capital which might derive from a wealthy rural estate. Finally, the results from Aphendrika were embedded into data gained from a map-, literature- and physical survey concerning previously known and potentially new ancient harbour or anchorage sites on the nort h-eastern coast of Cyprus, between Kyrenia and Cape Andreas. The identification of potentially new sites is based on specifically developed indicative criteria, leading to the conclusion that the maritime activity on the islands north coast was more intensi- ve than described in previous scholarship.

 This paper offers new insights into the under-researched rural maritime si- tes of Cypruss north-eastern coast of the Early Byzantine period. It focuses on the likewise under-researched coastal site at Aphendrika and its natural harbour bay in the eastern part of the Karpas peninsula, which can probably be identified with the ancient Hellenistic Urania. Its few built and rock-cut harbour facilities and the remains of the rural economy, such as weightstones and press-beds linked to olive oil production, were investigated and docu- mented by non-invasive methods, by a ground- and aerial survey. A conside- rable amount of surface sherds from the harbour bay, its shallow water and the bays close surroundings were rescued from further destruction and disap- pearance, transferred to the archaeological depot, documented and typologi- cally classified. Based on a few limited earlier studies about the historic site at Aphendrika, on the analysis of other ancient Cypriot sites with harbours or anchorages and on our own site analyses the paper argues that the har- bour and its largely unknown settlement served as a gateway emporion which connected the coast with its local hinterland and attracted especially coastal maritime traffic. The amphora spectrum is predominantly Eastern Mediterra- nean, among which the Late Roman Amphora 1 dominates. Abundant traces of lever-and-screw presses attest to a surplus production which certainly was exported through the harbour. The rural economy was probably controlled by a local elite. This elite who has similarly been attested for Early Byzantine sites at the south coast of Cyprus materializes through two 6th-century chur- ches and a single marble pilaster capital which might derive from a wealthy rural estate. Finally, the results from Aphendrika were embedded into data gained from a map-, literature- and physical survey concerning previously known and potentially new ancient harbour or anchorage sites on the nort h-eastern coast of Cyprus, between Kyrenia and Cape Andreas. The identification of potentially new sites is based on specifically developed indicative criteria, leading to the conclusion that the maritime activity on the islands north coast was more intensi- ve than described in previous scholarship.

 Bu makale, Erken Bizans Döneminde Kıbrısın kuzey-doğu kıyılarında ye- terince araştırılmamış kırsal deniz alanlarına yeni bakış açıları sunmaktadır. Aynı şekilde, Aphendikadaki az araştırılmış kıyı alanına ve muhtemelen antik Hellenistik Urania ile özdeşleştirilebilecek olan Karpaz yarımadasının doğu kesimindeki doğal liman koyuna odaklanmaktadır. Kayaya oyularak inşa edilmiş az sayıda liman tesisleri ve kırsal ekonominin kalıntıları ola- rak kabul edilebilen zeytinyağı üretimiyle bağlantılı ağırlık taşları ve pres yatakları, invaziv olmayan yöntemlerle yer ve havadan araştırılmış ve bel- gelenmiştir. Bu esnada, liman körfezinden, sığ sulardan ve körfezin yakın çevresinden toplanan önemli miktardaki yüzey parçası, belgelenmiş ve tipo- lojik olarak sınıflandırılırmış, arkeolojik depoya kaldırılarak daha fazla tah- ribattan ve yok olmaktan kurtarılmıştır. Aphendrikadaki tarihi alanla ilgili daha önce yapılan birkaç sınırlı çalışmaya, limanları veya demirleme yerleri olan diğer antik Kıbrıs yerleşimlerinin analizine ve kendi saha analizlerimize dayanan makalede; limanın ve büyük ölçüde bilinmeyen yerleşiminin, kıyıyı yerel hinterlandına bağlayan ve özellikle kıyı deniz trafiğini çeken bir geçit emporionu olarak hizmet ettiği savunulmaktadır. Amfora spektrumu ağırlıklı olarak Doğu Akdeniz olan alanda, Geç Roma Amforası 1 hâkim olarak yer almaktadır. Ayrıca, kaldıraç ve vidalı preslerin izlerine sıklıkla rastlanması, limandan ihraç edilen üretim fazlasının bir kanıtı olarak yorumlanmıştır. Bu dönemde, kırsal ekonominin muhtemelen yerel seçkinler tarafından kontrol edildiği düşünülmektedir. Kıbrısın güney kıyısındaki Erken Bizans yerle- şimleri için de benzer şekilde onaylanan bu seçkinler, 6. yüzyıldan kalma iki kilise ve zengin bir kırsal mülkten kaynaklanabilecek tek bir mermer pilaster başlığı aracılığıyla somutlaşmaktadır. Son olarak, Aphendikadan elde edilen sonuçlar, Kıbrısın kuzey-doğu kıyısında, Girne ve Andreas Burnu arasında, daha önce bilinen ve potansiyel olarak yeni antik liman veya demirleme yer- lerine ilişkin bir harita, literatür ve fiziksel araştırmadan elde edilen verilere dahil edilmiştir. Potansiyel olarak yeni alanların belirlenmesi, adanın kuzey kıyısındaki denizcilik faaliyetinin, önceki araştırmalarda açıklanandan daha yoğun olduğu sonucuna yol açan, özel olarak geliştirilmiş gösterge niteliğin- deki kriterlere dayanmaktadır.

Article Details

The Harbour at Aphendrika During The Early Byzantine Period and the Maritime Activity on the North-Eastern Coast of Cyprus

Authors:

Marko Kiessel | Ahmet Murat Saymanlıer | Meray Taluğ

Publisher:

Mersin University

Main Topics:

Archaeological Science | Archaeology of Europe | The Mediterranean and The Levant

Journal:

OLBA Vol.32 Issue XXXIII, pp.143-171

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

8/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001315168

pISSN:

1301-7667

Cyprus

Late Roman

Early Byzantine

archaeology

coastal settlement

harbour

anchorage

maritime gateway

amphoraKıbrıs

Geç Roma

Erken Bizans

arkeoloji

kıyı yerle- şimi

liman

demirleme

deniz geçidi

amfora

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Marko Kiessel | Ahmet Murat Saymanlıer | Meray Taluğ

Publisher: Mersin University

Main Topics: Archaeological Science | Archaeology of Europe | The Mediterranean and The Levant

Journal: OLBA Vol.32 Issue XXXIII, pp.143-171

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 8/2024

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001315168

pISSN: 1301-7667

Issues

Authors:

Marko Kiessel | Ahmet Murat Saymanlıer | Meray Taluğ

Publisher:

Mersin University

Main Topics:

Archaeological Science | Archaeology of Europe | The Mediterranean and The Levant

Journal:

OLBA Vol.32 Issue XXXIII, pp.143-171

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

8/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001315168

pISSN:

1301-7667