Tombs from the 14th century BCE with unique Mediterranean finds discovered in the Hala Sultan Tekke area

Archaeological excavations in 2025 in the Dromolaxia-Vizakia area (Hala Sultan Tekke) led to the discovery of two chamber tombs from the Late Bronze Age, dated to the 14th century BCE. The work was conducted under the direction of Professor Peter M. Fischer from the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) in coordination with the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus.

According to archaeologists, the ancient urban center of Hala Sultan Tekke covered at least 25 hectares and was founded around 1650 BCE. The city thrived for nearly five centuries and was destroyed and abandoned around 1150 BCE — at the end of the Late Bronze Age.

What archaeologists discovered:

The 2025 excavations focused on the so-called Zone A, where previous geophysical surveys had indicated underground structures. In addition to an ancient well abandoned due to high salinity of groundwater, two chamber tombs with vaults collapsed in antiquity were revealed. This collapse “preserved” the burial complexes, allowing key archaeological contexts to survive.

Despite partial damage, the tombs provided rich material for studying burial rites and the social structure of the Late Bronze Age population.

Finds from different corners of the world:

The tombs contained numerous items: high-quality local pottery, jewelry, tools, and personal items. Of special interest were imported artifacts confirming Hala Sultan Tekke’s participation in extensive international trade networks:

• elite pottery from mainland Greece (Berbati, Tiryns), Crete, and the Aegean islands;
• alabaster and ivory items from Egypt;
• lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, carnelian from India, and amber from the Baltic region;
• Nuragic ceramics from Sardinia, associated with trade in Cypriot copper ingots shaped like ox hides.

Researchers emphasize that the city’s wealth was based on the extraction and processing of copper from the Troodos mountain range. Found slags, furnaces, and crucibles confirm active metallurgical activity within the city. Through the well-protected harbor of Hala Sultan Tekke, Cypriot copper was exported throughout the Mediterranean, making the city a key trade hub of the era.

The tombs were used over many generations — more than a century — allowing clear stratigraphy to form. Upcoming studies, including ancient DNA analysis, will help better understand kinship, health, and lifestyles of the city’s inhabitants. It is already known that the burials include people of all ages — from infants to adults, who rarely lived past 40, reflecting the realities of the time.

According to the Department of Antiquities, the new discoveries confirm Hala Sultan Tekke’s status as one of the most important economic and cultural centers of the Late Bronze Age and shed light on Cyprus’s role in ancient Mediterranean trade.