A General Outlook on the Connections Between Alalakh and Cyprus in the Middle and Late Bronze Ages (original) (raw)

A General Outlook On The Connections between Alalakh and Cyprus in The Middle and Late Bronze Ages: Textual, Archaeological and Archaeometric Studies

K.A. Yener and T. Ingman, Alalakh and its Neighbours. Proceedings of the 15th Anniversary Symposium at the New Hatay Archaeology Museum, 10-12 June 2015, 2020

This paper deals with connections between Cyprus and Alalakh in the Middle and Late Bronze Ages in terms of different types of evidence (textual, archaeological and archaeometric), as they provide complementary information. These projects and ongoing studies are presented with some preliminary results. Although written documents with reference to Alašia are few in number, they show that people from Alašia were living in Alalakh by at least Level VII. Pottery is the main source of information for this article, because it is plentiful and informative. It is being studied by means of typological, stratigraphical and contextual criteria. In this respect, the initiation, phases and end of connections with Cyprus can be examined accordingly. Moreover, archaeometric analysis (both elemental and mineralogical) have been conducted in order to trace back to the raw material from the finished product. One of the aims of archaeometric analysis is to define the characteristics of clay through instrumental analyses, in addition to archaeological definitions. Another important aim is to contribute to provenance studies with respect to defining the regions in Cyprus from which the clay sources and other materials came.

Late Bronze Age Alalakh and Cyprus: A relationship of metals? - “Eastern Mediterranean Metallurgy and Metalwork in the Second Millennium BC” A conference in honour of James D. Muhly, Nicosia, 10th-11th October 2009

The excavations at Tell Atchana (ancient Alalakh) brought to light the capital of a small Bronze Age regional state called Mukish dating from c.2200-1300 BC. The archaeological finds represent aspects of its lively international discourse with far-flung areas such as Cyprus, Crete, Mesopotamia, Hittite Anatolia, and Egypt. This paper aims at sparking a dialogue on the notion that objects and the technical knowledge of making them elucidate long-distance relationships deeply embedded in the social order. The production of fine artifacts such as metalwork, glass, faience, and ivories was under palace patronage. At the same time, trade, diplomacy, warfare, and interregional networks all contributed to the transport of materials across great distances in the ancient Near East. Several analytical techniques have aided in the reconstruction of these trans-regional activities. In particular, Lead Isotope Analysis, ICP-MS, the use of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and polarizing light microscopy, have highlighted the technical knowledge and artistic choices of Alalakh's artisans in the production of objects of power and prestige. Within this framework, new information is presented about the sources of raw materials in the Amanus and Taurus Mountains.

Literature extract from Louise Steel: Cyprus during the last Bronze Age

2022

1. Introduction ……………………………………….................. 1 2. The Archaeological Record …………....………........ 2 2.1 MC III-LC I Transition ………………….....……............. 2 2.2 Settlement ……………………………………...................... 3 2.3 Copper Working ………………………….…….................. 3 2.4 Foreign Contacts and the Alashi.Question ….... 3 2.5 Burial Customs ……………………………..................….. 4 3. The End of the Late Bronze Age ………....…………. 5

A Contribution from Tell Dabc a/c Ezbet Helmi to the Cyprus Connection at the Turn of the Middle Bronze Age to Late Bronze Age

Proceedings of the International conference Egypt and Cyprus in Antiquity. Nicosia, 3-6 April 2003. ed. by D. Michaelides, V. Kasianidou and R.S. Merrillees , 2009

Egypt and Cyprus - late bronze Age - Middle Bronze Age - LCI ceramics - pottery imports - eastern Levant - Tell el Dab'a - Ezbet Helmi - excavation area A/V - Area H/I and H/IV - area H/V - cypriot imports - LC I - Late cypriot I - Bichrome Ware - Bichrome wheel-made Ware - Monochrome ware - BLWM - RLWM - White Slip I - White Slip II - Base ring I - Base ring II