Pyrgos Mavroraki Sacred Site
Pyrgos-Mavroraki is an Early to Middle Bronze Age settlement on the southern coast of Cyprus near modern Limassol. Excavations began in the early 2000s by the Italian Archaeological Mission of ITABC-CNR. Radiocarbon dating shows copper smelting started here as early as 4229–3960 BC during the Chalcolithic period. Even older copper slag from 8631–8291 BC was found, possibly from accidental metal use while making lime. This makes Pyrgos one of the earliest places for metal work in the Mediterranean. The settlement was on the slope of a small hill in a valley crossed by a stream. It sat on rocks with copper and had easy access to nearby mines at Mavrovouni and other sites. People lived there continuously from the 9th millennium BC until an earthquake destroyed it around 1850 BC. Historical Background The area around Pyrgos was rich in copper deposits and had plenty of water, making it ideal for metalworking. Nearby mines created a line of activity along the coast through villages such as Aghios Tychonas, Parekklisha, Pyrgos, Moni, Monagroulli, Asgata, and Kalavassos. Excavations at Pyrgos-Mavroraki revealed the full process of copper production. Archaeologists found workshops with basalt anvils, thousands of copper nuggets, broken crucibles, clay molds, stone tools, and pit furnaces dating to the early Bronze Age. These finds show how copper was extracted, processed, and shaped at…
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