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Archaeologists working at the Chalcolithic settlement of Chloraka-Palloures have uncovered houses, burial sites, rare metal artefacts and a large collection of figurines, adding valuable evidence about the lives and culture of people who lived in prehistoric Cyprus.
The discoveries were presented during a public event at the Chloraka Social Welfare Centre by Dr Maria Chatzigavriel, an archaeologist from Leiden University in the Netherlands. The presentation attracted local residents and people interested in archaeology.
Dating from 3500 to 2600 BC, the Chloraka-Palloures site belongs to the Chalcolithic Period, a time when communities on the island were transitioning from the Neolithic Age to the Bronze Age. The era saw the appearance of some of the first metal objects and the growth of trade links across the Mediterranean.
Leiden University has been carrying out excavations at the site since 2015 after receiving an invitation from the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus.
Dr Chatzigavriel said the research aims to improve understanding of how Chalcolithic communities developed, examine the transition from the Middle to the Late Chalcolithic Period and document the layout and organisation of the settlement during its later phase.
The event also included activities for children, giving them an opportunity to learn about archaeology through practical, hands-on experiences connected to Cyprus' cultural heritage.
Andreas Kyriakou, president of the Chloraka Cultural and Environmental Association, welcomed the event, saying that preserving and promoting the area's history and archaeological heritage is an investment in future generations.
