The island of Cyprus is host to an incredible archeological history, spanning over ten thousand years and a myriad of major civilizations. This website is dedicated to documenting its archeology and history.
The collection
133 Cypriot antiquities, from Neolithic potsherds to a Hellenistic oil bottle. Walk through them century by century, turn 14 scanned pieces in three dimensions, and read the ownership history of each object as far back as it can be traced.
News
Last updated (Cyprus time)
Bic, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Events · Leiden
Thirty-four researchers from 21 institutions give 32 papers and posters; entry is free, in person or on Zoom, and Artemis Georgiou of the University of Cyprus gives the keynote.
The island in the latest news
2 places
Read
October 5, 2026
October 4, 2026
June 24, 2026
June 17, 2026
Interactive map
Ten thousand years of settlement on one illustrated island. Step through seventeen periods from the first foragers to the Archaic city-kingdoms, zoom from the whole island down to a single valley, and open any site we have written up straight from its pin.
Play
Five free games built on real objects and real digs: make a pot, open a tomb, trace a vase, make cloth through five eras and carve a picrolite pendant. Five to fifteen minutes each.
The registers
Every Cypriot antiquity passed through many hands. Four linked registers follow them: the people, the institutions they worked for, the excavations they ran, and what was written about it all. Each entry links to the others.
Consuls and diggers of the 1860s, dealers, collectors, curators and scholars down to the present.
Browse all peopleMuseums, auction houses, dealers' firms, expeditions, consulates and universities.
Browse all institutionsBooks, articles, museum and sale catalogues, excavation reports, laws and archive papers.
Every recorded dig and survey on the island, from the first clearances to the missions in the field today.
History
Find out more about Cyprus from the first settlers to the late Archaic periods. Note we do not cover the later classical periods.
Article
The pottery of ancient Cyprus, especially throughout the Archaic period, is known for various repeating patterns and motifs, including intricate free-field birds. Let us explore commonly found bird motifs and the pottery on which they live.
3D models
Through our cutting-edge Photogrammetry program we have published our first set of compressed 3D models featuring an impressive resolution of up to 20 pixels per mm. Our models have been published with 8k textures downsampled from 16k.
You can also find out more about our Photogrammetry Program and future plans. We will be publishing articles detailing our photogrammetry approach and the use of 3D models in archeology.
About
Our mission is to democratize access to the fascinating history and cultural heritage of Ancient Cyprus by collecting, preserving, and sharing all known knowledge in a way that is engaging, understandable, and free for everyone.
We are committed to breaking down barriers to learning by translating complex research and literature into accessible, easy-to-understand content, providing the tools and resources necessary for people of all backgrounds to explore and appreciate the rich history of Cyprus. Through our dedication to writing, collecting, and preserving the history of Cyprus, we aim to inspire curiosity, foster a deeper understanding, and ensure that the invaluable knowledge of this ancient civilization is accessible to generations to come.
Projects
We have several ongoing and planned Projects:
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