The initial stage for early Bronze Age Cyprus: metallurgy of the Philia culture from a maritime cross-cultural perspective
Author(s)
Advisor
Date
2018-06Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
The Philia phase is characterized by whole-scale changes in the economy,
technology and society of Cyprus, which mark a profound break with the
Chalcolithic period on the island. The products of this new culture were so distinct
from the rest, that when Dikaios encountered the ceramic finds from this period for
the first time, he named them “Philia”, regarding the location of the finds in the
cemetery of Philia Vasiliko at the Ovgos valley. However, the nature of this
transition is still poorly understood since the discussion mainly revolves around
population movement, cultural interaction, or local development. The literature often
focuses specifically on the Philia period, disregarding the developments which led to
the emergence of the Philia culture. In order to understand the intense changes of the
island culture and emergence of the Bronze Age within in the island system, a
broader viewpoint must be taken in a long-term temporal perspective. Therefore, this
thesis will examine Cyprus as an island culture from the maritime outlook
meanwhile analysing the metallurgical aspect of the Philia Phase, which helps one
follow the distinct changes that took place in the island in connection with its
neighbors.
Keywords
Early Bronze Age CyprusEastern Mediterranean
Metallurgy
Philia Phase
Transmaritime Interactions