Cyprus - Shillourokambos

Shillourokambos, not far from Limassol, is, for the moment, the oldest pre-ceramic Neolitic dwelling site in Cyprus. It was occupied from the end of the IX^th millenium before our era and all througnt the VIII^th ; other frequentations occured later during the Sotira period. Present excavations bring to light important technical and stylistic comparisons with lithic industries in contemporary Near-Eastern cultures ("Middle PPNB"). Importations of Anatolian obsidian should also be noted. Dwelling constructions on wooden posts are original. They consisted of roughly large enclosed aeras, perhaps with multiple uses. The economy was based on agriculture and animal husbandry (goat, pig, cattle) brought from the continent where they had been domesticated, possibly at earlier dates than those that have been advanced up till now, if we take into account radiocarbon data of this Cypriot site. Deer-hunting was also evident.