Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Projects

• Alassa Plain Wares
• Egyptian Seals
• Man and Palaeoenvironment
• Excavations at Hala Sultan Tekke
• Hala Sultan Tekke in Context
• Non-destructive Glass Analysis
• NARNIA
• Roman Black Glass
• Tell Kazel

Staff

• Vanessa Boschloos
• Jan Coenaerts
• Peter Cosyns
• Eric Gubel
• Ariane Jacobs
• Karin Nys
• Melissa Samaes
• Hilde Wouters

LAST UPDATE

30-04-2009

Project

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Hala Sultan Tekke in Context

End 2007, I started a PhD dissertation under the supervision of Prof. Dr Karin Nys at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. My interest goes to the degree of sustainability in the past. My research area is mainly concentrated on the Late Bronze Age site of Hala Sultan Tekke in southeast Cyprus. Particularly the latest occupation phase of the settlement will be analysed and interpreted. The aim is to consider the possible factors which may have contributed to the final abandonment of the site.

Currently, Prof. Dr Karin Nys and I are finishing our study of  the Late Bronze Age Tomb MLA 1173 at Hala Sultan Tekke. The tomb assemblage reflects the cosmopolitan character of the harbour town, containing Late Helladic ware among which several pictorial kraters, golden Tawaret pendants and alabaster vases from Egypt, a cylinder seal, etc. Many indigenous wares were also among the pottery assemblage. The estimated time span of the tomb should be dated from Late Cypriot IIA till the beginning of Late Cypriot IIIA, and reflects therefore an earlier, but apparently flourishing phase of the settlement.

The main excavated area in the settlement of Hala Sultan Tekke yielded for the most part Late Cypriot IIIA features. This chronological phase will be analysed on different levels:
(1) Intra-site level: a contextual and functional analysis;
(2) Extra-site level (southeast Cyprus): Hala Sultan Tekke in relation to its hinterland and Kition;
(3) Regional level (Cyprus): Hala Sultan Tekke in comparison with other LC IIIA settlements on Cyprus,
(4) Interregional level (East Mediterranean): Hala Sultan Tekke and its place within the East Mediterranean, relations with the Aegean, Egypt, the Near East and Anatolia.

This study requires a holistic approach and thus an interdisciplinary collaboration. Mainly, there are two important aspects to deal with: the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and the traces of human activity.
The environment and climate in southeast Cyprus will be studied in collaboration with the geoarchaeological research project pertaining to the study of man and palaeoenvironment in southeast Cyprus, directed by Prof. Dr Karin Nys and Prof. Dr Philippe Claeys. A relational database in MS Access has been designed and set up for the analysis of the archaeological material of Hala Sultan Tekke. The database will be queried to retrieve data for chronological assessments and to compare the archaeological material or aspect(s) of the archaeological material, e.g. pottery, imported artefacts, etc. The expected output will provide an inventory of Hala Sultan Tekke’s site content. Additionally, it will give information on trade partners and the relation with neighbouring settlements. Currently, Prof. Dr Karin Nys and I are working on a digital inventory of the published and unpublished archaeological material of Hala Sultan Tekke. The architecture and stratigraphy of the settlement will be analysed using an up to date site map that will be designed with advanced IT-tools (e.g. 3D modeling and photogrammetry), and this in collaboration with the Cyprus Institute.

 

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