Tombs older than 3 thousand years have been discovered in the ancient trading center of Cyprus

Archaeologists have found rich tombs from the Bronze Age in the ancient trading center of Cyprus, Hala Sultan Tekke. The finds date back to the 14th century BC and were preserved almost intact after almost 3 thousand years. This was reported by Arkeonews magazine on February 3.

The prosperity of Hala Sultan Tekke was based on the production and export of copper using raw materials from the nearby Troodos Mountains. Archaeological finds, including slag heaps, furnaces, crucibles and ore fragments, confirm metallurgical activity.

Two tombs, as well as abandoned wells, were found during excavations by the Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus led by Peter M. Fischer, Professor at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, in 2025. Geological drilling near the well showed a high salinity of groundwater at a depth of about 10 m, which may explain why the well was abandoned in ancient times.

It is important that the ceilings of the discovered tombs collapsed long ago, sealing their contents and preserving them from further damage. Despite some damage, the archaeological context was preserved. In this way, scientists were able to accurately reconstruct funeral customs.

According to the publication, archaeologists have discovered a rich collection of burial paraphernalia in the tombs, including elaborately crafted Cypriot ceramics, tools and personal jewelry. The most notable was the multitude of imported luxury goods, which confirm the presence of long-range retail chains. The artifacts belong to mainland Greece, Crete and the Aegean Islands, Egypt, Afghanistan, India and the Baltic.

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Preliminary bioarchaeological analysis shows that people of all ages, from newborns to adults, were buried in the tombs. Ongoing research aims to further explore family relationships, health, demographics, and lifestyle of this elite Bronze Age society.

The finds confirm the status of Hala Sultan Tekke as the main economic and cultural center of the Late Bronze Age. The richness and variety of imported goods suggest that the tombs belonged to members of the ruling elite, who were actively involved in copper exports and international trade. Differences in foreign objects between tombs may indicate specialized trading roles or the presence of migrant communities in the city.

On January 30, Antiquity magazine reported the discovery of the remains of an ancient Persian garden in an aerial photograph from 1941. It was clarified that the fence of the structure was noticed to the south-east of Tabriz, Iran. Presumably, it was built up in the early 1990s and is the remnant of a monumental garden complex that may date back to the XVI–XX centuries..

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