Hill and vale : understanding prehistoric lithic use in Cyprus /
Sarah Tyrrell Stewart.
- [Great Britain]: Oxbow Books, [2004].
- p. 123-132 : map., tables ; 31 cm.
- 1 .
Includes summary in English language (p. 123).
Includes bibliographical references (p. 132).
The Idalion Survey Project (ISP) in central Cyprus and the Canadian Palaipaphos Survey Project (CPSP) in western Cyprus have identified a number of Aceramic Neolithic sites. The location and use of these sites reveal a consistent pattern of lithic procurement during this early period. Most sites are similarly located on prominent features overlooking river valleys and are close to the boundary between the igneous Pillow Lava Formation and the sedimentary chalk and limestone zones. They thus have ready access to the many high quality chert veins and outcrops within the surrounding hills. The ISP has discovered tqo Aceramic Neolithic sites: Alambra-Spileos, a cave site located on a saddle-sheped hill above the Annos River Valley; and Perachorio-Moutti, on a prominent outcrop overlooking a bend in the Yialias River. The CPSP has discovered four sites: Kannaviou-Kochina on a terrace and Kritou Marottou-Ais Yiorkis on a tributary above the upper Ezousas River; Kholetria-Ortos on a prominent hill overlooking the lower Dhiarizos River; and Kedhares-Yero Vasili on a terrace above the upper Khapotami River. Both the location and distintive lithic assemblages of these sites can tell us much about prehistoric settlement patterns and lithic resource extraction and manufacture. The lithic assemblages reflect their differing needs and functions and the assesment of related isolated finds linking them to each other and the region will paint a picture of the prehistoric settlement and subsistence behaviour in these regions of linked valley systems.