The New Swedish Cyprus Expedition 2020 (The Söderberg Expedition): Excavations in the cemetery of Hala Sultan Tekke

Abstract

In autumn 2020, the 11th season of excavations at the Late Bronze Age city of Hala Sultan Tekke took place in extramural Area A, where, based on indications provided by magnetometer surveys, tombs, possible ritual pits, and numerous wells were found, but no architectural remains. Tomb RR, which had been partly exposed in 2018 and 2019, was further excavated. It revealed a preliminary minimum total of 54 individuals (MNI) and numerous artefacts including, inter alia, complete ceramic vessels, figurines, jewellery, ivory objects, a scarab and a cylinder seal. The life span of the tomb can, on the evidence to date, be assigned from the LC IIA1 to LC IIC1 period, i.e., roughly from the last quarter of the 15th to the end of the 14th or the beginning of the 13th century BCE. Just to the south of Tomb RR another magnetic anomaly, Tomb SS, was investigated. Only the uppermost burial layer was reached, which was covered by two large deposits of several hundred intact or fully restorable ceramic vessels. These include various types of Cypriot tableware, as well as imports from the Aegean, Anatolia and the Levant. The preliminary date of these contexts is LC IIA˗B, i.e., roughly the last quarter of the 15th to the last quarter of the 14th century BCE. Since neither tomb has been completely exposed, excavations in the protected area will continue in spring 2021.