Now, almost 140 years later, the sanctuary is once again exposed and available for modern archaeological research. With the support of AMRICHA, a team of German archaeologists from the Universities of Frankfurt and Kiel/Würzburg has resumed excavations at Frangissa. Following the localization of the old excavation site through two limited test trenches last year [as detailed in the linked 2023 report], the sanctuary was extensively excavated in 2024. The nearly 2‑meter-high fill of soil and stones was removed by hand and carefully sifted. It became evident that this fill consisted of the spoil heap from the 1885 excavation, possibly containing ancient artifacts that were overlooked or deemed unimportant at the time.

During the labor-intensive work, the surrounding wall of the votive gift courtyard and over 100 statue bases of varying, sometimes colossal, sizes were uncovered. Remarkably, the 19th-century backfill not only contained the bases for votive statues indicated in the plan but also a vast quantity of statue fragments, many of significant size and extraordinary quality. The new finds from 2024 have profoundly expanded our understanding of this sacred site. Not only can many of the statues discovered in 1885, housed in museums in Nicosia and Toronto, now be completed with newly found fragments to restore their original appearance, but entirely new statue types previously unknown in Frangissa have also been documented. For example, the discovery of oversized feet in a walking stance has confirmed the existence of colossal male limestone figures from the Archaic period (7th–6th centuries BCE). Until now, such life-sized figures in Frangissa were only known in terracotta, such as the famous “Colossus of Tamassos” displayed in the Cyprus Museum. Additionally, evidence of other votive offerings not previously documented has emerged, including marbled glass beads and Egyptian faience amulets.

A particularly spectacular discovery was the unearthing of two inscribed bases. One features several local Cypriot syllabic script characters, while the other is adorned with a delicate Greek alphabetic inscription referring to the Ptolemies, the Hellenistic rulers of Egypt who controlled Cyprus from the early 3rd century BCE. This dedication demonstrates that the sanctuary played an important role not only in the Archaic and Classical periods (7th/6th and 5th/4th centuries BCE) but also after the end of the so-called royal era.

Indeed, the cult site underwent significant expansion during this later period, as evidenced by its architecture. During this time, a large peristyle courtyard, likely used for ceremonial banquets, was constructed adjacent to the votive gift room. In Ohnefalsch-Richter’s excavations, only an outer wall of this four-sided colonnaded structure was revealed, and it was not recognized as part of a larger building complex. As a result, the area of this building has remained undisturbed by modern interventions, offering a rare opportunity to examine undisturbed stratigraphic layers and gain direct insights into the building’s use. In the 2024 campaign, the dimensions of a northern-facing entrance, partially identified in 2021, were clarified. Moreover, the complex apparently included two additional doors on the west side, which were previously unknown. Although this building was not extensively excavated, targeted test trenches have now allowed its structure to be fully documented. The unexamined areas are being preserved as a kind of archive, in line with modern excavation practices, allowing future generations to conduct further investigations using new methods.

The 2024 excavations at Pera-Frangissa garnered significant attention, attracting numerous visitors from politics, academia, and the church. Notable guests included Cyprus’s Minister of Culture, Dr. V. Kassianidou, the Director of the Department of Antiquities, Dr. G. Georgiou, the German Ambassador to Cyprus, Dr. A. Schlimm, Bishop Porphyrios, and representatives of Cypriot and international universities. Alexander Malios, chairman of AMRICHA, also visited the excavations and the excavation house.

The campaign, led by Dr. Matthias Recke (University of Frankfurt) and Prof. Dr. Philipp Kobusch (University of Kiel), lasted from September 5 to October 14, 2024. Participants included students from the universities of Frankfurt, Kiel, Cologne, and Stuttgart, as well as students from Cyprus University in Nicosia. The analysis of animal bones was conducted by Dr. Angelos Hadjikoumis (Cyprus Institute), and ceramic analysis by Dr. Anna Georgiadou (University of Cyprus). A new team member, Laura Lipcsei, a conservator from the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto (Canada), oversaw the professional conservation and restoration of this year’s excavation finds. With her extensive experience working on the Frangissa finds in Toronto from 1885, she brought invaluable expertise to the project. Heartfelt thanks go to all participants.

Excavations at Frangissa are planned to continue in 2025. Future investigations promise to yield important new findings and insights that will revive the ritual practices of past eras. The large-scale studies of the sanctuary initiated this year will allow the cult site to be understood within its original spatial context. Research at Frangissa is thus of immense significance not only for the specific site but also for the entire ancient Cypriot landscape and our contemporary understanding of ancient cult practices.

Der Beitrag Pera-Frangissa • Season 2024 erschien zuerst auf Amricha.

Important steps towards the localisation and recovery of the Frangissa sanctuary, which was discovered in 1885, have already been achieved in previous campaigns, as can be read in the reports linked here: After the analysis of finds from the preparatory 2020 survey campaign had made it clear that there must have been an ancient sanctuary in the area under investigation, the first architectural remains were found right at the start of the excavation in 2021. However, despite their good preservation, the walls could not be reconciled with the plan of the 1885 excavation. The fact that the site of the famous Apollo sanctuary of Frangissa had indeed been rediscovered was confirmed in 2022 by the discovery of terracotta fragments that matched the breakage of votive statues that Ohnefalsch-Richter had excavated in 1885. At the same time, however, it became clear that the extensive architectural structures belonging to an extensive building measuring at least 14 x 20 metres were undisturbed by modern interventions and that a previously unknown complex had been discovered here, the investigation of which offered the opportunity to gain unique insights into the structures of the ancient sanctuary.

Based on this level of knowledge, the research objectives for 2023 were clearly defined:

(a) the precise localisation of the walled votive courtyard excavated in 1885,

b) in-depth research into the newly discovered architectural complex — particularly with regard to its exact appearance and function

c) To clarify the spatial and functional relationship between the two architectural complexes.

The campaign, led by Dr Matthias Recke (University of Frankfurt) and PD Dr Philipp Kobusch (Kiel University), lasted from 6 September to 7 October 2024 and involved students from the University of Frankfurt and Kiel as well as students from Cyprus University in Nicosia. The team was complemented by an archaeologist from Cyprus, Dr Thea Christoforou, as well as the experienced team of conservators Irene Pamer-Gatzsche and Alexander Gatzsche (AMRICHA Leipzig); the latter also supported the work with his technical expertise (drone photography; 3D scanning). The animal bones were identified by Dr Angelos Hadjikoumis (Cyprus Institute) and the pottery by Dr Anna Georgiadou (University of Cyprus). Our sincere thanks go to all those involved.

One of the most important successes of the 2023 campaign was the uncovering of a wall section running diagonally to the previously uncovered building remains. The discovery of a massive statue base at the head of this wall, with its unique, characteristic shape with a profiled recess and lateral projections, finally enabled the long-awaited correlation with the 1885 excavation: the base is marked in its unmistakable shape on the stone plan by Ohnefalsch-Richter at exactly this point. This means that it is now possible to correctly align the old plan and plan the next steps to uncover the statue courtyard. Uncovering the area that had already been excavated turned out to be more time-consuming than expected, as Ohnefalsch-Richter — as he also stated in his reports — had parts of the masonry torn down in search of inscriptions. Numerous remains of votive statues and terracottas were found in the rubble of the walls and the backfill of the old excavation area, meaning that a very careful approach was also required when uncovering the site.

The evaluation of the information known to date now reveals the following picture: the sanctuary, which was much larger than previously assumed, consisted of two directly adjoining areas that fulfilled completely different functions. The open courtyard, documented by Max Ohnefalsch-Richter in 1885, served as a place to display the votive offerings in the form of statues made of limestone and terracotta — some of which were much larger than life. There was also an enclosed cult chamber and the altar where sacrifices were made to the god Apollo. A surprising discovery was the observation that the densely packed votive offering statues on the south-facing hillside, which was partially encased by the enclosing wall, stood partly on brick steps that rose upwards and presented themselves to the visitor as if in a theatre. This created the image of a dense staggering of the votives without restricting their visibility and effect. Ancient votive offerings from the Archaic period (7th-6th century BC) were evidently placed next to votives from the Classical or Hellenistic periods (5th-1st century BC). The extent to which this was the result of a successive placement of the statues or possibly the result of a rearrangement in the Hellenistic period will be answered by the complete uncovering of the area.

To the east of this sacred courtyard is a large building with four surrounding halls which, according to the finds, was used for ritual banquets in honour of Apollo. The halls, which were open to the courtyard and regularly supported by pillars, also offered visitors to this rural sanctuary protection from the sun and rain. It is also conceivable that visitors could spend the night here under the shelter of the roofs.

Analysing the finds from the 2023 excavation campaign also yielded surprising results. In addition to the famous “Colossus of Tamassos”, which is one of the most monumental exhibits of the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia and was found in situ in 1885 in the Apollo sanctuary of Frangissa, another figure of a similar size has been found. So far, only a few fragments of it have been found in 2023, but they can be augmented by matching finds from the 1885 excavation.

In a research project by German archaeologists closely linked to the excavations, most of the pieces from the 1885 excavation in international museums were digitally scanned in March and April 2024. This will make it possible to identify related pieces more quickly in future, especially the new votives found in the coming years, and to obtain a comprehensive picture of the range of votives and votive art of the period in general instead of a wealth of individual fragments. For example, it is now possible to provide physical evidence of the affiliation of individual heads and bodies by matching 3D replicas with original artefacts The continuation of the work promises a variety of in-depth insights into the ritual and social life of ancient Cyprus. The excavation project makes it possible to understand the functional structure of such a sanctuary in a special way. The work will therefore continue this year. The research has so far been generously funded by the AMRICHA Research Institute Leipzig, whose director Alexander Malios has once again pledged substantial support for the current year.

Der Beitrag Pera-Frangissa • Season 2024 erschien zuerst auf Amricha.

On Monday, June 17, 2024, the official ceremony for the repatriation of an ancient bowl to representatives of the Republic of Cyprus took place. The official handover of the skyphos was conducted in the presence of the Cypriot Deputy Minister of Culture, Prof. Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou, the Director of the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia, Dr. Eftychia Zachariou, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus Maria Papakyriakou, and the Alexander Malios Research Institute (AMRICHA gGmbH) at the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Berlin.

The founder of the Leipzig Research Institute for Cypriot Culture and Archaeology (AMRICHA non-profit GmbH) acquired the ancient piece in the spring of 2019 from an American art dealer, knowing that it had been stolen from Cyprus. He was particularly interested in returning the bowl as he, being a Cypriot citizen, personally experienced the painful past of the island and has since been committed to raising awareness about the injustices suffered and fighting for a just future for his homeland.

In 1974, the Republic of Cyprus fell victim to a military invasion by Turkish troops. Since then, the northern part has been occupied and separated from the free south, an EU member, by a UN buffer zone known as the “Green Line.” In addition to the many civilian deaths and missing persons on both sides of the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities, the Turkish invasion also resulted in the destruction and theft of historically valuable Cypriot art and cultural property. Churches were destroyed, their mosaics and frescoes removed and sold, and entire museums and collections looted. Many of the stolen objects were illegally transported abroad. One of these items is the now recovered bowl, which has been returned to the Republic of Cyprus as a symbol of the fight against illicit trafficking of antiquities.

The illegality of the bowl was discovered through intensive provenance and origin research of the object being acquired as part of the work by experts from the Leipzig Research Institute for Cypriot Archaeology and Heritage. A week after the object’s arrival in Leipzig and the final confirmation of its origin, the Department of Antiquities, the state antiquities service of the Republic of Cyprus, was informed during a meeting in Nicosia. Initial talks about the repatriation followed, eventually involving the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Berlin.

The repatriated object is a so-called skyphos, a bowl-shaped drinking vessel approximately 2700 years old, of high historical value. The unique aspect of this piece is that it was not manufactured in Cyprus itself but was exported there in antiquity. It is further evidence of the Mediterranean island’s enduring importance as a hub for trade and cultural exchange since the Bronze Age.

The return of the skyphos is intended to set an example in the fight against the illegal trade in ancient cultural property. This trade remains one of the primary sources of funding for other criminal activities. The repatriation also represents the fostering of good relations between the Alexander Malios Research Institute and the Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus. In the future, this cooperation will be strengthened through the presentation of the Cypriot collection, comprising approximately 1600 objects curated by the AMRICHA non-profit GmbH, as historical ambassadors of Cyprus’s history and culture in Leipzig.

The AMRICHA non-profit GmbH is dedicated to the cultural networking between Germany and the Republic of Cyprus. It promotes various research projects, such as an archaeological excavation of a sanctuary in Frangissa, near the ancient city of Tamassos in Cyprus. In 2023, the first collection catalog was published, making an important part of the collection accessible to the general public for the first time.

Press Release from the Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus on the Repatriation of the Skyphos

Homepage of the Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus on the Repatriation of Cypriot Objects

Additional information and photographs can be requested at the following contact details:

AMRICHA gemeinnützige GmbH

Windscheidstraße 2

04277 Leipzig

E‑Mail: info@amricha.com

Tel.: 0341 30 31 186

Der Beitrag Leipzig Research Institute Returns Stolen Artifact to Cyprus erschien zuerst auf Amricha.

Thanks to the tireless work of Dr Elena Poyadji-Richter, it has now been possible to scientifically process the first 320 objects from the private collection, which comprises more than 1200 objects, and make them accessible to an international audience. The work, which was made significantly more difficult in the context of the Covid19 pandemic, is now finally ending in a 487-page important work on the archeology of Cyprus and the immense collection of Cypriot Antiquities based in Leipzig, Germany. Amongst these artifacts are ceramics, limestone statues and statuettes, terracotta figurines, coins, jewellery, metal and glass objects. They date across all periods of ancient Cypriot art from the Neolithic to the Roman periods.

The work is dedicated to the Cypriot archaeologist Prof Dr Vassos Karageorghis, who died at the end of 2021 and who initiated this publication. At his expressed request, the catalog should appear primarily in English and German. The English volume is now finished and we hope that this book will help to remember his achievements for Cypriot archeology, at least to some extent — not least because one of his most important concerns was to make the archeology of the island of Cyprus better known worldwide and to publish foreign collections.

The publication is divided into two parts, with the first part containing introductory texts and reporting on the extensive provenance research on the collection objects and the different archaeometric analysis. The second part is the enormous catalog of 320 selected objects from the SAM, which are presented with over 770 photos and described and classified using the latest knowledge by 14 important scientists from the archeology of Ancient Cyprus. The artifacts published in the volume are characterized by their unique artistry and rarity among their type, yet are also representative of Cypriot art. Some objects reflect Greek influences, whilst others reflect an amalgamation of foreign influences.

Special thanks from the Institute go to Dr Poyadji-Richter and the other authors of the volume: Dr Peter Cosyns, Dr Sabine Fourrier, Alexander Gatzsche, Dr Anna Georgiadou, Dr Artemis Georgiou, Prof Artemis Karnava, Prof Vasiliki Kassianidou, Dr Gabriele Koiner, Dr John Lund, Dr Evangeline Markou, Dr Sergios Menelaou, Irene Pamer, Dr Nikolas Papadimitriou, Dr Joanna Smith and Dr Christine Winkelmann.

The richly illustrated publication with well documented essays and entries, intends to introduce to scientists and to the wider public a significant part of Alexander Malios’s remarkable collection of Cypriot Antiquities, one of the largest of its kind.

The official presentation of the book will take place on September 27, 2023 at the Archaeological Research Unit of the University of Cyprus in Nicosia. The exact procedure and access to this event will be informed separately in advance and the information will be supplemented at this point.

An insight into the contents of the book can be found here: Link to Academia.edu

Information and data about the book:

Der Beitrag First publication out now! Alexander Malios Collection, Volume 1, Cypriot Antiquities erschien zuerst auf Amricha.

The initial excavation campaign in 2021, funded by Amricha, unveiled the first ancient building structures, confirming the localization of the Frangissa sanctuary, which was previously only based on survey data. The team from the Universities of Frankfurt and Kiel, led by Matthias Recke and Philipp Kobusch, deepened the exploration of these structures through the continuation of excavation activities and a 5‑week campaign in 2022. Once again, the work received financial and personnel support from Amricha, as well as funding from the ROOTS Cluster of Excellence at CAU Kiel.

Larger than expected — extent and structure of the sanctuary

The recent excavations have significantly expanded our knowledge of the building discovered in 2021. The architectural enclosure of an open district, measuring at least 12 x 17 meters, has been revealed. The walls are meticulously constructed with carefully placed stone plinths, reaching heights of up to 1.20 meters. These plinths formed the base for mud-brick masonry, which is no longer preserved today. The area’s floor consisted of a meticulously prepared, flat rammed earth floor, partially preserved despite its fragile nature.

Based on current knowledge, this complex’s construction can be dated to the Hellenistic period. However, the district underwent successive alterations after its initial construction. In a later phase, short transverse walls were erected, possibly connected to a flat stone base that was built later and ran parallel to the enclosure walls. At the current stage of excavation, this stone base is likely interpreted as a support structure for pillars that carried the roof of a hall encircling all sides. This measure further diversified the potential uses of the courtyard, potentially serving to protect particularly valuable votive offerings from the weather.

Towards the end of the excavation, a stepped structure constructed from meticulously carved ashlars was discovered in the immediate vicinity of the courtyard area. These blocks, of considerable size and quality, were previously unknown at Frangissa. The precise trimming and use of imported materials make this finding exceptional. Typically, all architectural structures within the sanctuary are made of local limestone. The complete uncovering of this monument in a future campaign will greatly enhance our understanding of the sanctuary’s layout. The fact that this monument is located outside the newly excavated courtyard complex suggests that the area utilized within the context of the sanctuary was even more extensive.

Although the exact relationship between the Hellenistic courtyard and the old excavations, and consequently the main area of the sanctuary discovered in the 19th century, remains unclear at present, the rich finds, such as votive figures, impeccably prove its connection to the sanctuary. The core of the sanctuary, documented by Max Ohnefalsch-Richter in 1885, also consisted of an open courtyard but contained a roofed cult building within it. Based on the discovered artifacts, this part of the sanctuary can be traced back to archaic times. The newly found structures are the first evidence of a larger extension phase for the Frangissa sanctuary, significantly expanding the built-up area and potential uses during Hellenistic times. The Hellenistic sanctuary is now known to be more than twice as large as previously believed.

Small shards bring important insights

Furthermore, the discovery of seemingly inconspicuous terracotta fragments yielded a particularly remarkable result. These fragments belong to a larger-than-life male terracotta figure, similar to the renowned Colossus of Tamassos in the Cyprus Museum (which originates from the same sanctuary). Like its counterpart, this figure was assembled from several individual parts, and its robe exhibited intricate incised ornaments. Fragments with similar characteristics had been previously found in 1885 and taken to the museum in Nicosia. The newly discovered fragments align perfectly with these old fragments, securing the identification of the sanctuary with the site excavated in 1885, which had previously been based on numerous circumstantial pieces of evidence.

The planned continuation of the excavation in 2023 will focus on investigating the courtyard’s function, as little is currently known about the use of the inner open space. Additionally, the precise connection between this extension and the sanctuary’s core will be explored by locating the old excavation. Only then can we gain a better understanding of the sanctuary’s overall functioning and the interaction among its individual functional parts.

Der Beitrag Pera-Frangissa • Season 2022 erschien zuerst auf Amricha.

Markkleeberg. The Leipzig-based “Alexander Malios Research Institute for Cypriot Heritage and Archeology” (Amricha) wants to set up an exhibition space for its collection of more than 2,000 objects in the south-western part of the Agra Park, which dates from the earliest settlement to the Byzantine Empire around 11,000 years representing Cypriot history. According to Alexander Malios, who was born in Dresden, grew up in Cyprus and later moved to Leipzig again, Markkleeberg could become the “world’s largest independent museum of Cypriot culture outside of Cyprus”.

Side effect: revitalization of the park area

The complex is to be built on the area that was last used as a “Koi-Center” for the sale of fish food. The project and location are interesting in many respects. If you extend the line from the German Photo Museum via the White House, the area in the southwest is on the same axis. Because the Amricha project also includes a gastronomic area that could even be rented out for events, an infrastructural upgrade and the revitalization of this park area are obvious at the same time. In his presentation to the Markkleeberg city council, Amricha curator Alexander Gatzsche even spoke of the “re-emergence of the historic south-west gate”.

In her statement of facts, Mayor for Building and Construction of the city of Markkleeberg Jana Thomas pointed out to the city councilors that the town hall, the district building inspection office, the Pro Agra association and the State Office for Cultural Property consider the location suitable for the new museum building. The only question that remains is the financing, which Amricha cannot or does not want to handle alone. “It is a private initiative, but in addition to funding, we are primarily building on a strong partnership with the city of Markkleeberg, the Free State of Saxony, the EU and the Republic of Cyprus,” emphasized curator Alexander Gatzsche.

“We take everyone on board”

The 33-year-old Curator explained to the LVZ: “It is a cultural and social project. We are therefore in a phase that I would like to describe as ‘approaching from all sides’ ”. Therefore, the design of the building is currently only a kind of proposal and cannot yet be backed up with a cost estimate. Designed primarily as a museum in which the focus is on “cultural and historical mediation”, space should also be created for events and social projects. “We take everyone on board who wants to participate,” Gatzsche offers.

For the Markkleeberg town hall, an entry seems conceivable: “Our concern is the revitalization of the Agra Park,” says OBM Karsten Schütze (SPD), who also emphasizes the city’s interest “in being able to offer park gastronomy on the Markkleeberg side as well.” However patience is required on this boat trip. “If everything works out perfectly, construction could start in three to five years at the earliest,” curator Gatzsche looks ahead.

Link to the original article at LVZ+ (German):  https://www.lvz.de/lokales/leipzig-lk/markkleeberg/museumsplaene-naehren-hoffnung-auf-belebung-des-markkleeberger-agra-parkes-ETVE6TTQHIGC24KUYNWZDAEHVU.html

Der Beitrag Museum of Cypriot Culture nurture hope for revitalization of the Markkleeberg Agra Park erschien zuerst auf Amricha.

As a continuation of this successful cooperation, the first excavation campaign in this area now took place in 2021. The goal of the current activities is, on the one hand, to rediscover the architecture discovered in 1885 in order to document the ancient remains that were left in situ according to modern scientific standards and to clarify questions about the building history. On the other hand, the excavation is to be extended to areas that have not been investigated so far, in order to record a stratigraphically reliable sequence of use phases and thus to be able to reconstruct the functioning of an ancient rural sanctuary on Cyprus over a longer period of time — in this case from the Archaic period to Hellenism.

The first meters into the past

The excavation took place from 18th of September to 22nd of October 2021 as part of a field school under the direction of Dr. Matthias Recke (University of Frankfurt) and PD Dr. Philipp Kobusch (University of Kiel). Parallel to gaining scientific knowledge, the project also pursued the goal of teaching the participating students from Germany, Italy and Cyprus fundamental techniques in excavation and (digital) documentation, as well as the basics of Cypriot archaeology. AMRICHA also provided substantial support in this campaign: Mag. Phil. Irene Pamer M.A. and Alexander Gatzsche M.A. undertook the restoration and conservation of the finds; the latter also provided technical support for the measuring and digitisation work.

The project was made possible by the kind permission of the Department of Antiquities Cyprus, which encouraged and supported the work in many ways. Special thanks are owed to the Director of the Department of Antiquities, Dr Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou and the Curator of Excavations, Dr. Giorgos Georgiou, who also organised the transport of the large-scale finds to the Cyprus Museum.

The new excavation initially concentrated on an area in the south of the small river running through the valley. Here, a georeferenced grid with quadrants of 5 to 5 m was set up, in which a total of six trenches of different sizes were opened, each of which followed different questions. Among other things, they served to check and verify the results from the previous geophysical survey and to clarify the ancient topographical contexts.

During the excavation, a number of ancient walls were documented. Some of the walls are very long and are demonstrably connected to each other and thus form larger spatial units. They belong to a building of unknown function, at least 8 x 11 m in size. Their ancient origin can be regarded as certain. This is proven on the one hand by the building technique, which differs from the surrounding more recent terrace and retaining walls. On the other hand, several undisturbed, clearly ancient, layers could be recorded in connection with these walls. In contrast, no finds were made that would speak for a post-antique settlement in the area. However, ancient, post-antique and recent interventions can be recognised in the soil in many cases, which disturb the original ancient features. Among them was a straight, deep ditch cut into the rocky, hardened subsoil which was later filled in with stones and loose earth containing only a few ancient finds. It can be associated with the excavation work of the 19th century under Max Ohnefalsch-Richter. Together with another historical trial trench, which was already identified as such in 2020, it vividly documents the working methods of the archaeologist from Leipzig in the 19th century. The newly discovered walls cannot be identical with the structures documented at those times — their course cannot be reconciled with the published stone plan, so that the excavation was already able to uncover previously unknown ancient areas in the first year, showing that the sanctuary was far more extensive than could be assumed on the basis of the plan published in 1891.

The analysis of the walls and their arrangement made it possible to distinguish between several phases of ancient construction and usage. Their interpretation and dating are still difficult at the current state of research. However, they show that the site has a longer and complex ancient history, which is also indicated by the chronological spectrum of the finds, which range from archaic to Hellenistic times.

Fragments of statues and exotic imports

The character of the finds also shows that this area was indeed part of the ancient sanctuary. A large number of fragments of ancient statues made of terracotta and limestone were found, indicating intensive use of the cult site and an active votive tradition. Among them are not only remains of small statuettes, but also several fragments of large-sized statues, such as the lower part of a statue at least half-life-size. In addition, a massive limestone base of a life-size figure was recovered. A particularly rare artefact are the fragments of an ostrich egg, which as an exotic imported item was an exclusive and precious votive gift to the deity. It attests to the special attraction of the sanctuary and its original wealth.

The relationship of these building remains and finds to the core of the sanctuary uncovered by Ohnefalsch-Richter can only be clarified with the help of further excavations. However, the size of the site uncovered so far, its complex construction history and the nature of the finds already indicate the great potential of this place: Changes and developments in use in particular offer important clues for the analysis of cultural contexts and ancient ritual practices. Therefore, a continuation of the excavations is planned for the coming year.

Der Beitrag Pera-Frangissa • Season 2021 erschien zuerst auf Amricha.

Geophysical Survey

In collaboration with Prof. Dr. Apostolos Sarris (Archaeological Research Unit, Lab of Digital Humanities Geoinformatics, University of Cyprus), a comprehensive geophysical survey was carried out in the area, which has already been delimited by archive studies. The prospection covered an area of 6,500 m². A detailed, georeferenced mapping of the area was carried out by means of a high-resolution measurement using a NOGGIN PLUS GPR unit with a 250 MHz antenna. This resulted in a number of indications of architectural structures in the ground that were not visible above. An initial careful correlation of the measurement data with the stone plan published by Ohnefalsch-Richter shows that there is a correspondence regarding the apsidial structure of the building inside the courtyard complex and the western wall of the sanctuary area. However, a definitive statement can only be made by excavating the relevant locations.

Archaeological Survey

The area of ​​almost 10,000 m² examined as part of a systematic field inspection largely corresponds to the area also recorded in the geophysical survey. It was divided into regular quadrants of 100 m², the position of which is precisely determined by surveying and correlated with the geophysical plan. These quadrants, designated with a consecutive number, were systematically explored and the artifacts visible above the surface were collected. These are in particular fragments of vessels and roof tiles, but also numerous fragments of statues and statuettes made of limestone or terracotta. The found material was statistically and typologically recorded, weighed and photographed. Diagnostic sherds were drawn and the tone value was determined according to the Munsell Soil Color Charts. The mapping of the finds and the previous analysis show that a considerable concentration of finds is emerging in the western area of ​​the investigation area. It is also noticeable that the ceramic fragments found there are, on average, significantly larger and better preserved, while the surface ceramics of the central and eastern areas, which are often very finely preserved, show strong signs of weathering. Apparently, the fragments of the western area have only been on the surface for a relatively short time — namely since the excavations by Ohnefalsch-Richter in 1885 — while the remaining material was exposed to the weather for centuries and was repeatedly relocated by plowing.

Finds of limestone sculptures and votive terracottas are also concentrated to the west of the investigated area. The fragments found are significant and correspond to the range of votive finds found during the excavation in 1885. Fragments of horses, riders and wagons dominate the small-format, hand-formed terracottas. The large-format hollow terracottas, pre-formed from pieces on the potter’s wheel, represent dedicants — here, due to the proportions, figures of at least life size can be detected. The fragments of limestone sculptures show depictions of adorants as well as animal figures, probably also horses (or riders). The chronological spectrum of the votive ranges from archaic times to Hellenism.

If you look at the finds recorded during the archaeological survey in their entirety, the chronological framework is expanded: the oldest finds come from the Early Bronze Age, the latest finds, which were primarily made in the eastern area of the investigation area, from the late Roman-Byzantine period. In this context, reference should be made to an ancient settlement of the Roman era, already recognized by Ohnefalsch-Richter, clearly downstream, from where these late fragments could come from.

A Trial Trench from 1885

Apart from the numerous fragments of archaic-Hellenistic votive offerings, the existence of which points to the sanctuary, and whose comparatively fresh preservation shows them to be remnants of the Ohnefalsch-Richter excavation rubble, direct evidence of the activity of Ohnefalsch-Richter in 1885 could be found in several places. The remains of a nearly 15 m long trial trench were found immediately south of the sanctuary area. This trial trench is laid out in a completely straight line, and its width corresponds exactly to 2 feet — the unit of length used in the time of Ohnefalsch-Richter in Cyprus. From his reports it is known that he had appropriate probes built around the area in order to explore the further expansion of the sanctuary. The now rediscovered trial trench cuts through an ancient, double-shell wall with a wall thickness of around 60 cm, which has been preserved in this area with a height ca. 40 cm, but which may continue deeper into the ground. Since it is all around in unexcavated soil — with the exception of the trial trench -, an undisturbed stratigraphy can be expected here. This area is therefore intended for a closer examination as part of the planned excavations.

For the Future

The sientific activities, financially funded and personally supported by AMRICHA, have clearly confirmed the location of the Apollo sanctuary of Frangissa in 2020, which was discovered by Ohnefalsch-Richter in 1885 and examined in an emergency excavation. In the course of this first 2020 campaign, a surveying network has already been set up and a local GIS system created. A georeferenced 3D model of the valley was created by flying a UAV over the entire area and the basis for an elevation map was laid. Our intention is to start a regular excavation there in spring 2021.

The universities of Frankfurt (Dr. M. Recke) and Kiel (PD Dr. P. Kobusch) plan to carry out the excavations as part of a field school in order to give students of classical archeology an insight into practical field work with the most modern methods of digitization and documentation. Technical support will again be provided by AMRICHA, who will also oversee the conservation work of finds and architectural elements (Alexander Gatzsche M.A.). We are again grateful for the support from the Department of Antiquities Cyprus and the University of Cyprus, who not only actively supported the 2020 campaign, but also offer perspectives for a long-term, scientifically significant and promising project.

Der Beitrag Pera-Frangissa • Season 2020 erschien zuerst auf Amricha.