7,000-year-old Neolithic settlement opened in Protaras

The Department of Antiquities has officially opened to the public an archaeological site in the center of Protaras — a Neolithic settlement approximately 7,000 years old. The site is open daily and is located between Vizakia and Lombardi beaches in the Paralimni district of Cyprus. It dates back to the Ceramic Neolithic period (5200–4800 BC).

Visitors can explore plans, photographs, and information panels that illustrate the organization of the settlement and the activities of its inhabitants: agriculture, animal husbandry, toolmaking, and community customs. The materials are designed for visitors of all knowledge levels.

Excavations were conducted in five phases between 1995 and 2001 under the direction of the late Pavlos Flourentzos, former Director of the Department of Antiquities. Archaeologists uncovered 2,750 square meters of land, revealing 40 dwellings, a defensive wall, and numerous artifacts: vessels, stone figurines, knives and blades, mortars, and necklaces made of picrolite and deer bones.

During the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou noted that the site strengthens the local community’s connection to its history and enhances the cultural profile of the Famagusta region as a tourist destination. The preservation and promotion of this site are seen as vital for showcasing the archaeological heritage of Paralimni and Cyprus as a whole. The information panels serve as a “living bridge” between the past and present visitors.