Building X at Kalavasos-Ayios Dhimitrios plays a pivotal role in understanding the social and administrative structure of the Late Bronze Age in the region. Located in the northeastern sector of the settlement, it is part of a complex that has revealed significant architectural remains, underscoring the cultural and economic prominence of the period. Building X, with its impressive architecture and functional role, was a key center for the management of resources and the administration of the settlement.

The building, constructed between the 13th and 12th centuries BCE, employs ashlar masonry, a technique commonly found in large public buildings of the time, such as those at Enkomi and Kition. Its architectural layout included large interior courtyards and halls, flanked by corridors and smaller rooms, suggesting its role as a central administrative space. On the western side of the building, a large hall measuring 19 meters in length, supported by six monolithic pillars, was discovered. In this hall, storage pithoi were found, placed on specially designed stone bases. These findings indicate that Building X played a significant role in the storage and management of liquid products, likely olive oil and wine, as evidenced by the large capacity of the pithoi. Additional excavations in the surrounding areas uncovered further storage facilities with a total capacity of 50,000 liters, highlighting the agricultural production and the settlement's importance in storing and distributing products.

The ongoing excavations are expected to reveal further details, deepening our understanding of Kalavasos as one of the most important centers of Cypriot culture during this period.

West of the building, a narrow street was uncovered, as well as another large semi-official building containing a rectangular stone basin, likely used for the production of liquid products such as olive oil. This suggests that Building X was a central hub for the management and production of such goods.

The building’s close association with richly furnished tombs, such as Tomb 11, provides further insight into its social role. Tomb 11, located adjacent to the building, contained the skeletons of three young women, a child, and two infants, accompanied by gold and silver jewelry, glass and alabaster objects, and intricately decorated Mycenaean pottery. The total weight of the gold jewelry was 432 grams, indicating the exceptional wealth and status of those buried. These finds suggest that Building X was closely linked to the burial customs of prominent families in the region, reinforcing its ceremonial and social importance.

The tombs in the settlement span different time periods, showcasing the historical continuity of the region. Notably, the rich tomb near Building X predates the settlement by 50 to 70 years, offering new insights into the timeline and the development of the area.

The presence of large quantities of Mycenaean pottery in the tombs around Building X, as well as the discovery of red lustrous ware, demonstrate that Kalavasos-Ayios Dhimitrios was an active participant in the international trade networks of the Mediterranean. These finds strengthen the idea that the settlement functioned as an important hub for commercial exchanges, particularly with the Aegean and the Near East.

Building X, with its dual role as both an administrative center and a significant component of the region’s burial practices, is crucial for understanding the social structure and economic activities of Kalavasos during the Late Bronze Age. The ongoing excavations are expected to reveal further details, deepening our understanding of Kalavasos as one of the most important centers of Cypriot culture during this period.

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Bill Andreas is a computer software designer, historical conservator, and archaeologist from Sudbury, Massachusetts (near Boston). He holds a degree from the University of Pennsylvania and has conducted graduate studies in Classical Greek and Latin at Boston College. He joined the Vasilikos Valley Project under the direction of Dr. Ian Todd and Alison South in 1987 and has been working in Kalavasos since then. He is one of the (many) excavators at the site of "Agios Demetrios" in Kalavasos, a major Late Bronze Age city (circa 1500 - 1200 BC) located next to the archaeological site of Tenta, and he is currently working on publishing the excavations.
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Thursday 26.9.2024 at 6:30pm, Museum in the Village Square