Archaeological excavation of Chalcolithic cemetery in Makounta, Cyprus

From June 15 to July 17, 2025, an archaeological team led by Dr. Kathlyn Grossman from North Carolina State University conducted excavations at a prehistoric cemetery in Makounta, Paphos district, Cyprus. The project, supported by the National Science Foundation, North Carolina State University, and the American Society for Overseas Research, focused on a site previously identified during surface surveys by Dr. Darius Maliszewski. The team excavated ten rock-cut tombs situated on a hilltop near a known Chalcolithic settlement. Researchers identified three primary tomb types: small circular pits, larger circular pits, and one rectangular pit. Findings suggest the site dates to the Chalcolithic period, though all tombs appeared disturbed by modern activity or environmental erosion. Grave goods were recovered from only two tombs, including beads made of shell, picrolite, faience, and quartz, as well as human skeletal remains, copper spirals, and copper wire fragments. The study provides new insights into funerary practices and social organization in prehistoric Cyprus, drawing comparisons to the Souskiou cemetery.