Joanna S. SMITH / Mara T. HOROWITZ
(Columbia University, New York, USA / Alalakh Excavations, USA)
The Phlamoudhi Archaeological Project (2000-present) aims to analyze, interpret, and publish the survey and excavations, dating from the Bronze Age onwards on Cyprus, by the Columbia University Expedition to Phlamoudhi (1970-1973). The original team ended work due to the war that divided the island in 1974, which has made prevented any further work at the site. Not only were objects stored in the village of Phlamoudhi lost, but also the final plan of the settlement at Melissa was left incomplete, some notebooks went astray, and elevations were only inconsistently recorded. The original excavation was an entirely paper-based project; computer use began in the late 1970s, but only in the context of Neutron Activation Analysis of selected sherds from the excavations. This short presentation focuses on our experiences in sorting out the stratigraphy, completing plans, and using a relational database, particularly for ceramics, at two sites, Melissa and a smaller hilltop site, Vounari. Due to the inability to return to the site for further recording, all work involves photographs, excavation notebooks with sketch plans (some rediscovered since 2000), and objects stored at Columbia University and in the Cyprus Museum. Creating a database to keep track of the finds and stratigraphy as well as using computer drawing programs in order to reconstruct the architectural construction phases has enhanced our ability to study of the emergence of complex society on the island and in relationship to other parts of the eastern Mediterranean. This is important, for the Phlamoudhi sites preserve the only detailed stratified sequence covering the 500-year period the formation of regional exchange networks and their administration on Cyprus. Also, we have begun to understand technological changes over time in the production of Red-on-Black pottery characteristic of the region, which was made at Melissa and exchanged via Vounari.