Choirokoitia, Cyprus

You can see the ruins of the Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia in the vicinity of the city of Larnaca in Cyprus. It was formed in the 7th Millennium BC. The settlement lasted for more than 3,000 years. The unique archaeological area was discovered about a hundred years ago. It was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1998. It was found out in the course of numerous studies that a stone wall of impressive size surrounded the territory of the settlement. Its height was 3 meters, and its thickness was about 2.5 meters.

The main objects of the ancient settlement were small round buildings. Their internal diameter varied from 1.4 to 4.8 meters. Some of these buildings had a residential purpose. The area for the hearth was allocated in them. They also had windows. There were also many outbuildings for various purposes on the territory of the settlement. The ancient city of Choirokoitia completely fell into disrepair at the beginning of the 4th Millennium BC. The reasons why locals left the city remain unknown to modern researchers.

About 600 people lived in the ancient city during its heyday. Locals were engaged in farming and cattle breeding. Numerous studies have shown that the cult of the dead was widespread among locals. Burials were formed directly under the floor of residential buildings. Many items were found by researchers in the burial sites. These were jewelry, weapons, utensils, and other artifacts. The main attraction of the archaeological area is considered to be the foundation of ancient dwellings today. Researchers found human images on some stone fragments. They are the oldest found on the territory of Cyprus. Next - Eilat