Episkopi Bay Survey 2004 Episkopi Bay, Cyprus
			Background 2003 Season 2004 Season Plans for 2005 Participants Bibliography Useful Links
From late June through early August, a second season of underwater survey work was undertaken in the area of Episkopi Bay and the Akrotiri Peninsula. The project, which is part of the University of Cincinnati excavations at Episkopi-Bamboula, is logistically and financially supported by the Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University and RPM Nautical Foundation of Florida (USA). The small team of American and Cypriot archaeologists and volunteers, following on the success of the first season in 2003, worked in several new and promising areas in an effort to understand better the area's maritime history and commerce.
2004 Season Three areas were selected for systematic exploration during 2004.
			First, archaeologists continued the circuit of shallow water surveys along the west coast of Akrotiri and Zevgari. The team investigated an assemblage of worn and broken Rhodian transport amphoras of the Hellenistic period that may represent the washed up debris from a shipwreck. Unfortunately, the lack of substantial unconcreted pieces speaks to the illegal removal of all the loose diagnostics over the past few years.
		An interesting lone artifact was recovered at the west tip of Zevgari, namely a remarkably small but largely intact Greek skyphos, or drinking cup.
Near the western edge of the survey area, sheltered conditions in Avdimou Bay suggested the possibility of an ancient anchorage. At the center of the bay can be found a long, wide row of large stones clearly intended to augment the bay's natural shelter. Archaeologists made a preliminary map of its shape and orientation, while several additional days were spent documenting ceramic and other cultural material across the remainder of the bay.
		A concentration of various stone anchors suggests that this stretch of coastline, though only slightly protected from harsh weather, did serve as a suitable anchorage, while an assemblage of fragmentary Late Roman ceramics from Gaza provides more evidence for periods of use and cultural connections.
				Much of the season was dedicated to investigations along the south coast of Akrotiri at "Dreamers Bay." This sheltered cove functioned as an anchorage from at least the Hellenistic period, as attested by pottery on shore and underwater. A series of long structures on shore are probably best identified as harbor storage facilities.
Immediately outside of this cove, a scattering of stone anchors hints at an earlier phase of activity. Though these pierced stones, without ceramic or other context, are very difficult to date, several bear distinct similarities to types common during the Late Bronze Age.
				Pottery here provides evidence for bulk transport of liquid commodities (wine, oil, etc.) as well as building materials such as bricks and tiles, with especially high levels during the Late Roman and Early Byzantine periods.
Plans for 2005 The summer of 2005 should see the project reach an exciting culmination through the utilization of remote sensing over a large and relatively unexplored area. The project will benefit in this endeavor from a generous loan of vessels, equipment and expertise from RPM Nautical Foundation of Florida (USA), a non-profit organization that is quickly becoming a leader in high-tech archaeological exploration and excavation in both the Old and New Worlds. The use of sonar and magnetometers should prove ideal for exploration in this sandy environment, and will no doubt contribute greatly to the quickly growing catalogue of shipwrecks in Cypriot waters. Another important avenue of continuing research will be the series of harbors and anchorages that dot the coastline of Episkopi Bay and the Akrotiri Peninsula. The writing of histories of these sites will be a priority, and should help elucidate the development of ancient coastal trade networks. Integral to this goal is the intensive exploration of some of the undated harbor remains, including limited geoarchaeological investigations.
Participants
Justin Leidwanger (Texas A&M University) Joshua Daniel (Texas A&M University) Kelcy Sagstetter (Boston University) Emilia Vassiliou Marios Avgousti
Bibliography
Leidwanger, J. 2004. "Episkopi Bay Survey, Cyprus, 2003." INA Quarterly 31.2: 17-27. Leidwanger, J. forthcoming. "Episkopi Bay Marine Survey, 2003 Preliminary Report." Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus. Leidwanger, J. forthcoming. "Research Notes." Society for Historical Archaeology Newsletter. Leidwanger, J. forthcoming. "Ottoman Pipes from Akrotiri, Cyprus." Society for Clay Pipe Research Newsletter.
Useful Links
Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) Nautical Archaeology Program - Texas A&M University RPM Nautical Foundation
Citation Information: Leidwanger, J. 2004. Episkopi Bay Survey 2004. http://ina.tamu.edu/episkopi/2004/
		created by J. Leidwanger, 1 October 2004