The initial stage for early Bronze Age Cyprus: metallurgy of the Philia culture from a maritime cross-cultural perspective

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.