Integrating sciences and technologies at Pyla-Kokkinokremos

Driessen, Jan [UCL] Hermon, Sorin; Bretschneider, Joachim, Kanta, Athanasia

The report will present the contribution of integrated science and technologies approaches to the study of architectural remains and of selected artefacts, most of them being unearthed during recent excavation seasons of the C-PEPL project and in collaboration with The Cyprus Institute. Since 2015 the Institute participates to the geodesic surveying, 3D terrestrial and airborne documentation of architectural remains of the site, and conducts non-invasive and non-destructive chemico-physical investigations, technical imaging and 3D shape analysis on selected artefacts, in order to characterise their materiality and understand their mode of production, technique of manufacture, possible uses and provenance. We will present our 3D field documentation methodology and preliminary results based on scientific visualisation and virtual reconstruction methods, as well as results of in-depth investigation of selected artefacts, such as a gold bar, a bronze figurine, an unknown stone object, alabaster vessel, and so forth. Preliminary results show a recurrent pattern in the special finds repertoire, where heterogeneous high-quality objects, brought probably from elsewhere, were on-site modified to be later on hidden prior to an apparent attack or hasty abandonment, but with the hope of a return that never occurred. The architectural remains investigation indicate a well-planned settlement, with a range of specific functions buildings extending over substantial parts of the plateau.