About the finding situation on-site
The archaeological investigation in the years between 2019 and 2025 were supported by the evaluation of the results of aerial and satellite images, drone surveys and ground penetrating radar investigations.
Larger concentrations of finds were found at the Amargeti-Petros Anthropos and Amargeti-Asomatos sites.
The parcel of Petros Anthropos is probably the one which was excavated by D. G. Hogarth in 1888. This site was already known for its wealth of stone statuettes and terracotta figurines.
Part of the Amargeti-Asomatos corridor was documented by the team of the Cyprus University of Technology, Earth Observation Cultural Heritage Lab (A. Agapiou, M. Christoforou, V. Lysandrou), Lemesos, in April 2022, using high resolution orthophotos.
The rectangular structures seen in the orthophotos correspond with concentrations of finds south and southwest of the church in 2021 and with historical photographs and satellite data and with the results of the GPR survey in 2019 (R. Morawetz, A. Milchrahm).
In preparation for and accompanying the photo campaign, the team from the University of Graz carried out a survey in this area in April 2022. Among the finds, the most characteristic ones included sherds of glazed pottery from the 13th/14th century AD, but also ancient sigillata, fragments of pithos of unknown date and fragments of heavy clay pottery, some of which from the Middle Ages.
The analysis of aerial images and satellite data by A. Agapiou and V. Lysandrou in 2019 revealed several circular structures in Asomatos and a rectangular structure in Petros Anthropos. Due to the results of the remote sensing the geophysics team's investigated these structures. Rainer Morawetz and Andreas Milchrahm used ground penetrating radar to uncover archaeological remains in the subsoil of the Asomatos and Petros Anthropos sites. However, the analysis was unable to verify these structures.
The excavations in 2024 finally showed that the massive bedrock was covered with only a thin soil layer at this point. This geological situation is probably the cause of the unclear results.
Some isolated ashlars were found in Amargeti-Xeraargaka, west of Petros Anthropos. The Asomatos site yielded fragments of terracotta figurines from the Geometric Archaic to Hellenistic periods, as well as Geometric Archaic to Hellenistic and Roman, medieval and later wares, with many fragments of glazed pottery from the 13th and 14th centuries A.D. The terracotta figurines were interpreted as votive offerings and thus as evidence of a sanctuary. The glazed pottery was associated with graves in the cemetery of the destroyed church (Ag. Asomatos), which was confirmed through the results of the excavation in 2024.
Team members: Gabriele Koiner, Eva Christof, Ute Lohner-Urban, Alexandra Puhm, Sabine Sturmann, Rainer Morawetz, Andreas Milchrahm
The main focus during the first campaign was to undertake a general analysis of the cultural landscape of Amargeti and intensive field surveys in the Asomatos and Petros Anthropos plots.
Through the division of the fields into 10 x 10 m and 20 x 20 m squares, it was possible to identify concentrations of finds in detail. The Asomatos field in particular brought a wealth of pottery and fragments of archaic, classical and Hellenistic terracotta figurines: female and male heads, a torso and limbs of animals (and also humans?). The finds ranged from the archaic to the Byzantine and medieval periods. The assessment of some of the pottery finds as Bronze Age has not been confirmed in retrospect.
Team members: Gabriele Koiner, Gabriele Ambros, Ute Lohner-Urban, Alexandra Puhm, Nicole Reitinger
The second survey campaign again concentrated on the Amargeti-Asomatos and Amargeti-Petros Anthropos parcels. Asomatos, a slightly sloping field named after the ruins of a church located on top of it, proved to be very promising in 2019. The finds reflect human activity from the Archaic to the Roman period, as well as from the Frankish and later periods. These include Hellenistic and Roman pottery and, above all, Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic fragments of terracotta figurines as well as the remains of a church, cooking and glazed pottery from the Frankish period. The human bones probably belong to a cemetery of unknown date.
The Petros Anthropos site contained pottery of Hellenistic, Roman, medieval and later(?) periods, glazed pottery from the Frankish and later periods(?), roof tiles as well as fragmented archaic to Hellenistic(?) terracotta figurines. A considerable number of stones were found on two plots, some of them seems to be cut.
Team members: Gabriele Koiner, Eva Christof, Ute Lohner-Urban, Alexandra Puhm, Nicole Reitinger, Sabine Sturmann
The finds from Petros Anthropos in 2021 consist of heavy clay pottery from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, roof tiles, a few terracotta figurines and a few stones, some of which may have been worked (sculptures?). The finds from Petros Anthropos clearly indicate building, storage and probably votive activities, as evidenced by roof tiles, pithoi, amphorae, terracotta figurines and perhaps also stone figurines. Two flint stones from the Petros Anthropos area have proven to be parts of a modern harrow (with many thanks to Dr. S. Raptou for his expertise). A flint core with splinter scars could be from the manufacture of flint blades, perhaps for similar purposes.
In the area of Xeraargaka in the west of Petros Anthropos, only a few finds were collected in 2021 (cf. the results of the third campaign in October 2022).
More in the south of the village of Amargeti, a remarkable quantity of thick-walled fragments of storage vessels or building pottery dating to the Roman period were found in the Loutra tis Regainas field. In this region roman bath is estimated.
On the western edge of the Xeros Valley, on the opposite site of the village of Keledria, undecorated pottery fragments were discovered in several plundered chamber tombs.
Team members: Gabriele Koiner, Eva Christof, Ute Lohner-Urban, Alexandra Puhm, Nicole Reitinger
In October 2022 the main focus of the survey was baised on Amargeti-Asomatos and Amargeti-Petros Anthropos. In Asomatos, the team collected finds from the Classical, Hellenistic (terracotta figurines), Roman, Medieval and possibly Ottoman periods (pottery), while in Petros Anthropos, fragments of pottery from the Roman and medieval periods were found.
Cut stones (ashlars) are assumed to be the remains of an ancient building at this site, which remains may be visible in satellite data. Several cut stones presumably belong to buildings of antiquity in the area of so called Xeraargaka, which is situated to the west of Petros Anthropos, on a triangular shaped peninsula. However, very few pottery fragments were found on the site itself. A larger concentration of pottery, on the other hand, was found on the neighboring parcel.
Team members: Gabriele Koiner, Gabriele Ambros, Nicole Reitinger
The survey mainly focused on the Asomatos and Petros Anthropos corridors and yielded fragments of female and male figurines as well as animal figurines in the Asomatos corridor.
In the parcel of Petros Anthropos, some fragments of animal and non-identifiable terracottas and pottery from the Hellenistic or Roman period (amphora fragment and fragment of Unguentarium) and later periods were picked up. Numerous fragments of roof tiles were also noted but not collected. Several carved stones could have been the remains of wall stones and sculptures.
The promising results from 2019-2023 in the parcel of Asomatos were the basis for an excavation in March and April 2024 in order to link the finds to architectural, possibly ancient, structures. Sondages A (south of the ruined church of Ag. Asomatos), B and C (northwest of the church) were established.
The church itself was cleaned and recorded photographically and geodetically. It faces east and had a rectangular porch or entrance to the west. It measures 5.40 m in length, or 7.25 m including the entrance. The brickwork inside is only preserved up to a height of approx. 30 cm. The interior of the church was covered with single, loose slabs. A metal Proskynitarion was constructed near the apsis, which is still frequented by worshippers and contains an idol and offering lights.
In Sondage A, several graves of mostly adults were documented in a west-east orientation. The remains of an infant were accompanied by a bronze amulet, while the adult was buried with a medieval glazed pottery at its feet. This and other graves in sondages A and B were characterized by a cover, sometimes also by a lateral barrier with stone slabs of different sizes. No coffin could be detected in any of these graves. To the south of the graves, fragments of medieval pottery vessels and the remains of an yet undetermined bronze implement were found in a pit.
In Sondage B, several west-eas oriented graves were uncovered. In the majority of these graves, fragmented glazed pottery vessels were also preserved at the feet of the burials. A larger loss of soil due to erosion and agricultural activity had been observed in this sondage. As a result, the graves laid very close to below the surface, and in most cases the human remains and glazed ceramics were fragmented. The graves were located directly above and sometimes between massive rocks. As in Sondage A, ancient terracotta fragments (of human figurines, but also of animal figurines) were discovered in the grave fillings. Fragments of cypro-geometric/archaic pottery were found in Sondage B in particular.
The graves were part of the cemetery of the small church. The glazed bowls allow us to determine an occupation period from at least the late 12th or early 13th century. There is historical evidence of the church in Ottoman times, the end of its use is unclear; it was used as a quarry in the 20th century at the latest. There is evidence of subsequent use in the form of the Proskynitarion.
Sondage C was characterized by a high find quantity of ancient (including cypro-geometric/archaic pottery and terracotta) in the upper 10-20 cm. Below this, similar to sondages A and B, there was solid, bedrock with empty fissures.
No founds could be documented for ancient architectural structures. These might have been removed or covered over during the construction of the church. Therefore, the hypothesis of an ancient sanctuary could not be confirmed.
The excavation was accompanied by a survey in which terracotta and pottery from the Cyprogeometric/Archaic period to the Hellenistic period were collected and documented. These fragments include human and animal figurines ranging from miniature to at least life-size, modeled and hand-molded, miniatures in snow-man technique and relief-like figurines with clothing details and individual body parts (curls, hands, feet, arms, legs). Before Sondage C was removed, an almost complete preserved terracotta figurine of a temple girl was discovered.