Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-06-24

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] New FIR violations by Turkish jets

[02] Excavations in Nicosia reveal Hellenistic and Roman remains

1015:CYPPRESS:01

[01] New FIR violations by Turkish jets

The violations took place northwest of Cyprus' western coastal town of Paphos.

The source told CNA the Turkish F-4 and F-16 fighter planes were taking part in a military exercise code-named "Sea Wolf" being conducted in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.

The Turkish military exercise, is scheduled to finish on Friday, June 26.

CNA KN/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1030:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Excavations in Nicosia reveal Hellenistic and Roman remains

The excavation at St George's hill was undertaken to establish the limits of structures revealed in 1997.

According to an Antiquities Department press release, two wide parallel walls, which seem to delineate the limits of a large rectangular area with subdivisions on its interior, were brought to the light.

In the upper levels large numbers of a variety of stone tools were retrieved as well as a number of clay loomweights, quantities of amphora fragments, cooking pots and lamps.

A roughly rectangular structure, possibly a kiln, divided in two compartments lined with clay and filled with huge quantities of ash was also excavated.

Close to this kiln, a number of intact vessels mainly jugs, unguentaria, small bowls and cooking pots were found as well as a vessel made of lead and a plaque of lead or, perhaps, a lead weight. The most common finds are small grinders and pounders of various shapes.

A large pit was excavated in the bedrock where pottery of the Cypro- Archaic II period was found as well as two fragmentary terracottas, a male and possibly a female one. A third terracotta was found in a second pit.

Pits with, usually, one terracotta and pottery fragments of the Cypro- Archaic period are a characteristic feature of the site.

The excavated remains of the previous season were further investigated to clarify the various phases of use.

Walls in the uppermost layers were constructed almost exclusively, with re-used material obviously taken from older, possibly abandoned buildings.

Below the Hellenistic occupation floors, architecture associated with Cypro-Archaic pottery was identified.

Walls of an older phase were traced at the lowest level, preserved to a very small height but very well constructed, but their chronology remains obscure.

To speed up investigation of the remaining part of the hill, two trial trenches were excavated in a north-south and east-west direction to locate any further buildings in the north-west part of the hill.

The excavation lasted for six weeks from 28 April to 5 June 1998 under the direction of Archaeological Officer Dr. Despo Pilides.

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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