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Department of Antiquities (Cyprus)

The Department of Antiquities (Greek: Τμήμα Αρχαιοτήτων, romanized: Tmíma Archaiotíton) is a government department of the Republic of Cyprus with responsibility for archaeological research and cultural heritage management.[1]

Department of Antiquities
Τμήμα Αρχαιοτήτων
Formation1935
Legal statusGovernment department (Deputy Ministry of Culture)
HeadquartersNicosia
Region served
Cyprus
Websitewww.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/da/da.nsf/DMLindex_en/DMLindex_en Edit this at Wikidata

History

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The Department of Antiquities was established in 1935 by the British colonial government.[2] It took over the responsibilities of the Committee of the Cyprus Museum that was established in 1882.[3]

It has conducted excavations at Khoirokoitia, Kition, Amathus, Kourion, Paphos, Salamis, Enkomi and carried multiple rescue excavations all around the island. The Department of Antiquities operates various archaeological sites such as Idalion, Kourion, Paphos Archaeological Park and museums like the Cyprus Museum, archaeological district museums of Paphos, Limassol, Kition and smaller local museums like the Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Mansion.

In 1955 the Director Peter Megaw established the Archaeological Survey Branch, known also as Cyprus Survey, and appointed Hector Catling as the head, Kyriacos Nicolaou as an Assistant and a number of technicians.[4] The Branch was downgraded after the 1974 war[5] and dissolved in 1979.[6] In 1979 a position for traditional architecture and folk art was created.[6]

Until 1960 the conservation works focused only on monuments dating to antiquity, the Byzantine and Medieval period. Since then there have been restoration of Ottoman, British Colonial and Traditional monuments.[7]

From 1935 until the 1st of July 2023 the Department operated under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, until its transfer in the newly created Deputy Ministry of Culture.[8]

Repatriation of Artifacts

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The Department of Antiquities has been successful in repatriating stolen Cypriot artifacts from abroad. In 2023, 80 artifacts were returned from the United States, including items covering a wide range of Cypriot history. Additionally, 36 artifacts were repatriated from Australia, involving collaborations with the Australian government and academic institutions.[9][10]

Digitisation Initiatives

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The Department has launched a comprehensive digitisation programme named "Digitising the Museums of Cyprus," funded by the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism and Norway Grants. The initiative aims to digitise 96,000 artifacts from various museums across Cyprus to enhance the management and accessibility of Cyprus's cultural heritage.[11]

Legislation

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The first Antiquities Law of 1905, which was amended by in 1927 and then replaced in 1935, with the formal establishment of the Department. The 1927 law allowed partage, giving one third of the excavated material to the archaeologist, a third to the owner of the excavated land (which was usually bought by the archaeologist), and a third to the Cyprus Museum. The law allowed for the export of antiquities, two thirds of the excavated material of the Swedish Cyprus Expedition were used as one of the foundational collections of the Medelhavsmuseet.[12]

Antiquities Laws

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Publications

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The Department publishes since 1915 the Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus (RDAC) as well as the Annual Report of the Director of the Department of Antiquities Cyprus (ARDAC). The ARDAC for the years 2006-2009 can be accessed online. Additionally, it publishes its own excavations.

Organisation

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The department is headed by the Director of the Department of Antiquities, next in line is the position of the Director of the Cyprus Museum and following that, the Curator of Monuments.

Directors of the Department of Antiquities

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Curators of the Cyprus Museum, now Curators of Museums

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Assistant Curators of the Cyprus Museum

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Curators of Monuments

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Inspectors of Antiquities

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Archaeological Survey Officers

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mission / Authorities". Department of Antiquities. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  2. ^ "Historical Background". Department of Antiquities. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  3. ^ Polignosi. "Αρχαιοτήτων Τμήμα". www.polignosi.com. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  4. ^ Karageorghis, Vassos (2012). "In memoriam Hector Catling. A Stylobate of Cypriote Archaeology". Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes. 42 (1): 9–10. doi:10.3406/cchyp.2012.1009.
  5. ^ "Archaeological Field Survey in Cyprus. Past History, Future Potentials. Proceedings of a Conference held by the Archaeological Research Unit of the University of Cyprus, 1-2 December 2000. BSA Studies, 11 – Bryn Mawr Classical Review". Bryn Mawr Classical Review. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  6. ^ a b Hadjisavvas, Sophocles (2004). "Surveying after Catling: the work of the Department of Antiquities Survey Branch since 1960". British School at Athens Studies. 11: 37–41. ISSN 2159-4996.
  7. ^ Egoumenidou, Frosso (1993). "The Cyprus Department of Antiquities and the Protection of Monuments of the Recent Past". International Journal of Cultural Property. 2 (1): 163–170. doi:10.1017/S0940739193000190. ISSN 0940-7391.
  8. ^ "Τμήμα Αρχαιοτήτων". www.culture.gov.cy (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  9. ^ "More Cypriot antiquities to be repatriated in next three months". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  10. ^ "Cyprus antiquities returned from Australia". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  11. ^ "Department of Antiquities announces "Digitising the Museums of Cyprus" Programme". In-Cyprus. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  12. ^ Roueché, Charlotte (2001). "The Prehistory of the Cyprus Department of Antiquities". British School at Athens Studies. 8: 155–166. ISSN 2159-4996.
  13. ^ Nicolaou, Kyriakos (1970-10-01). "Archaeological News from Cyprus, 1969". American Journal of Archaeology. 74 (4): 391–400. doi:10.2307/503134. ISSN 0002-9114.
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