The University of Sydney Archaeological Excavations of the Paphos Theatre Site, Cyprus

News

Paphos Excavation Season 2009 - Call for Student Positions

May 2009

Public Lecture on the Paphos Project
Tuesday 19 May 2009, 6.30pm for 7pm
Australian Museum

Craig Barker of Sydney University Museums explores the work conducted by The University of Sydney on the Hellenistic-Roman theatre in Paphos in Cyprus since 1995. The theatre of Paphos, constructed in c. 300 BC, hosted performances and entertainment for over six centuries. At its greatest extent, under Roman control, the theatre could seat an audience of 8000 spectators. Discover how this ancient theatre has been exposed from the ground through careful archaeological investigation and what this research means for our understanding of Cypriot history.
For more details and bookings.


May 2009
The Paphos project is pleased to announce a new sponsorship program with the AAIA (Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens). 

Read more about the project in forthcoming AAIA publications.

    20 April 2009

THE LATEST technology is being implemented in surveying methods at the site of the ancient Paphos theatre, in a groundbreaking project, the results of which will help to understand and preserve the UNESCO site.

News report from the Cyprus Mail.

May 2008

ANNOUCEMENT OF STUDENT TEAM PLACES FOR THE 2008 SEASON OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY PAPHOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT IN CYPRUS

A limited number of positions are available for the 2008 season of excavations at Paphos in Cyprus for students of the University of Sydney to be directed by Dr Smadar Gabrieli and Dr Craig Barker. 

 

In 2008 excavations will focus on trenches located to the south east of the ancient theatre that has been excavated since 1995 under the direction of Professor Richard Green.  The small Australian team will be exploring structures in the urban area of the NE quarter of the ancient Hellenistic-Roman city and ancient city gates, in order to further understand the relationship between the ancient theatre and the surrounding city.  Senior team members will continue to work towards the publication of the previous decade’s work, while student team members and the field team will be involved in the excavating and recording process, as well as preliminary processing of finds.

 

The season will run for four weeks between approximately 5 October and 5 November 2008 (depending upon final airline schedules).  Students will need to be aware that participation will impact upon any second semester study plans.

 

The cost is airfare plus $1500 living expenses (to cover the cost of accommodation in the Department of Antiquities Dig House, food and other excavation expenses).

 

For more details on the achievements of the project visit www.paphostheatre.com or else a photocopy of the booklet Fabrika: An Ancient Theatre of Paphos is available for reading from the desk of the Nicholson Museum.  Further enquires can be directed to Craig Barker on c.barker@usyd.edu.au (although he will be overseas 19 May -9 June so may not be able to respond immediately).

 

 Applications should include a CV and details of relevant academic and fieldwork experience.

 

Applications are due by Friday 13 June 2008. 

Successful applicants will be notified by late June.

 

Submit applications to:

Craig Barker

Nicholson Museum A14

University of Sydney NSW 2006

Or leave a copy at the desk of the Nicholson Museum

SEPTEMBER 2007

REPORT ON THE 2007 SEASON OF EXCAVATIONS AT THE SITE OF THE ANCIENT PAFOS THEATRE

In July 2007, the Australian archaeological mission from the University of Sydney conducted its tenth field season at the site of the ancient theatre of Nea Pafos under the auspices of the Department of Antiquities. 

The work of the mission this season concentrated on the area of the eastern parodos of the theatre.  Excavation of two trenches (Trench 07A and Trench 07B) took place at the very eastern end of the theatre.  Trench 07B followed the analemma wall in an eastern direction underneath the modern road surface, in an attemptto identify the original eastern entrance to the theatre.  This part of the site had been badly damaged by the laying of water pipes and other service trenches in recent years.  Excavations have yet to uncover Roman period surfaces, but did reveal an extensivesystem of interconnected cisterns, at least seven in number.  These cisternsare lined with lime, most likely supplied from the breaking up and burning of columns from the theatre that had been dumped in the eastern parodos.  It is possible that the complex was used for tanning leather, and we believe it to be post-medieval.  It therefore adds to the information we have of the nature of the industrial, agricultural and other commercial and semi-commercial activities taking place at the location of Fabrika in the Medieval and post-Medieval periods.Future work shouldreveal the full extent of the structures and their chronology.

Trench 07A was opened due south of a turn in the eastern parodos which was identified in 2004.  It was designed to identify the dimensions of the foundations for the Antonine platform which supported vaulting in the mid-second century AD.  The edge of the platform had been discovered in 2004, and despite damage causedbythe modern service-cuts, it was identifiedasa monumental structure, indicative of the support required to develop additional seating in the Antonine remodelling of the theatre.  As expected, the support platform isof considerable size, measuring 2.5 x 17.0 metres.  The eastern edge was located, and it appears to have been cut by medieval or post-medieval activity.  This will be investigated in 2008.  Another aim of Trench 07A was to explore the southern entrance to the parodos, which was expected tomeet with the surface of the ancient road to the south of the theatre, running east-west (the theatre itself is on a slightly different alignment).  Excavations revealed that there is indeed an entranceway from this direction, although much of the surface was destroyed by later activity.  An unexpected findwas a monumental ashlar wall, constructed of stone blocks over one metre wide.  The wall, as currently exposed, represents the northern and western walls of a structure that runs east-west, parallel to the ancient road.  Assuming that the structure was facing the road, it was aboutfive metres wide, and the stone-wall so far exposed extendsseventeen metres to the east.  Because the wall, unlike the theatre, is on an east-west alignment, the Antonine platform was modified to accommodate it, thus indicating that the structure is at least earlier than the second century AD, but probably Hellenistic.  Its full dimensions andfunction will be determined in future seasons, but it seems to be a public building located near the ancient North-East city gate, perhaps a stoa.  

We expect thatfuture investigations will clarifythe flow of the audiencein and out of the theatre during ancient performances, and will give indication of the urbanisation of this north-eastern quarter of the ancient city of Nea Pafos.

A third trench (Trench 07C) completed the exposure of the area of the foundations of the second century AD proscenium (stage building) wall that had yet to be excavated.  Unfortunately much of the stone had been taken away during the fifth century quarrying [and abandonment process] that followed the destruction of the theatre structure.  The overall line of the stage building and orchestra edge is, however, known from its excavation further west and east.  As expected, Trench 07C exposed some more of the second century AD pipe that was used to supply water for the fountains that played from the front of the stage; and the trench did pick up the continuation of the Antonine-period stage front, known from further west.  The trench added little new information to our overall understanding of the area of the stage building, but provided further confirmation of the identification of at least five major phases of rebuilding and reconstruction in Antiquity, as the structure was restored following earthquakes, or changed to accommodate new trends and fashions in popular entertainment.

Almost the entire area of the stage building as well as the orchestra has now been excavated, and a large part of it has been backfilled for its protection.  Thecavea hasnow largely been cleared.  The parodoi remainthe main sections of the theatre itself that require future archaeological investigation.

As well as excavation, work proceeded on processing finds for the forthcoming publication of the first decade of work on the Paphos theatre site.  Special emphasis was placed this year on marble and other architectural elements.

A full season report is currently being completed for submission to the Report of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus.


Dr Craig Barker and Dr Smadar Gabrieli
The University of Sydney

Press Release - September 2007

In July 2007, the Australian archaeological mission from the University of Sydney conducted its tenth field season at the site of the ancient theatre of Nea Pafos under the auspices of the Department of Antiquities. 

The work of the mission this season concentrated on the area of the eastern parodos of the theatre, in an attemptto identify the original eastern entrance to the theatre.  The foundations of the large Antonine platform (2.5 x 17.0 metres), which supported a vaulting in the mid-second century AD, was exposed, and an entranceway to the parodos  from the south was identified.  Next to the parodos, the excavations uncovered  an earlier monumental ashlar wall, probably Hellenistic.  The function of the wall, which is over a meter wide, is as yet unknown, but it seems to be a public building located near the ancient North-East gate.  Further investigation of the structure will take part next season.

An extensivesystem of interconnected cisterns, at least seven in number, overlays the area of the eastern parodos.  These cisternsare Medieval or post-Medieval, and may have been used for tanning leather.  This complex adds to the information we have of the nature of the industrial, agricultural and other commercial and semi-commercial activities that took place at the location of Fabrika in the Medieval and post-Medieval periods.

As well as excavation, work proceeded on processing finds for the forthcoming publication of the first decade of work on the Paphos theatre site.  Special emphasis was placed this year on marble and other architectural elements.

Cyprus Today

Click here to read the article on the theatre site of Paphos by Professor J.R. Green in Cyprus Today April-July 2007.

Cyprus Today is produced by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus.

FEBRUARY 2007

Link to story on the 2006 season in Sydney University Museums News (Issue 11)

AUGUST 2006

Link to the Cyprus News Agency press release on the completion of the 2006 season (please note the incorrect use of an image of the Odeion of Paphos rather than the theatre site)