Newsroom
A hidden chapter of Cyprus’ ancient past was unexpectedly uncovered in the occupied port area of Famagusta after a section of the ground collapsed last week and revealed what archaeologists say is a rock-cut tomb dating back to the Hellenistic period.
According to reports from the north, the ground gave way on Friday near a main road in the port zone, leading local officials to discover a tomb carved directly into the bedrock beneath. The site has since been cordoned off and is under 24-hour guard, with authorities from the breakaway administration’s so-called "antiquities department" launching a formal excavation on Monday.
Initial findings show that the tomb’s entrance opens into a room-like space containing three stone beds, or burial benches, covered with rocks. Experts believe the structure dates from the Hellenistic period, which spans from the late 4th to the 1st century BC.
Excavation work is ongoing, with teams carefully cleaning, documenting, and analyzing the site’s contents. Once conservation is completed, the items are expected to go on display in a museum in the north.
For now, the site remains under tight guard as archaeologists continue their work.
