Press Releases

It is a great pleasure indeed for me to be with you here, at the Cyprus High Commission in London, for this inspiring event dedicated to recent developments in the archaeology of Cyprus, and held under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Culture. 

In my former capacity as Professor of Archaeology at the University of Cyprus, I often explained to my students that fieldwork and research often bring to light new finds which lead to the need to change our ideas about the past, to reinterpret legacy data and even challenge established theories – the best example perhaps is the fact that human presence on the island is now known to date several millennia earlier than what was thought in the eighties. 

This is why today’s workshop is so important. It brings together leading scholars, as well as younger researchers from Cyprus and the UK, who will present to us the latest results in their research and enable us to explore and appreciate the multiple facets of Cyprus’ important archaeological heritage. 

I am deeply grateful to Marios Theocharous and the Cultural Section of the Cyprus High Commission, as well as to my dear friend Dr Thomas Kiely and the British Museum, for their excellent cooperation in organising this day of discovery and dialogue. 

As much as I would have loved to be one of the speakers and speak to you on my own research, as I did almost seven years ago when I was invited to give a lecture here, I think it is more important, given this opportunity of my first visit to the United Kingdon (UK) and to Cyprus House in my capacity of Deputy Minister, to say of few words about the Deputy Ministry and the strategic goals of the government of Nikos Christodoulides for culture. 

In July of 2022, the Department of Contemporary Culture of the Ministry of Education and the Cyprus Handicraft Service of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry were transferred to the newly established Deputy Ministry of Culture. A year later, they were joined by the Department of Antiquities, which was transferred from the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, where it was placed since it was founded in 1935 by the British Colonial government. The Cyprus Library, namely the National Library, the National Theatre, and the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra are also under the jurisdiction of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, as are numerous museums and art galleries. 

Our mission is to protect and showcase Cyprus’ cultural heritage, ancient, traditional and contemporary, tangible and intangible, to support the creative industries and to create an environment in which artists can work and thrive. One of our most important strategic goals is to build our cultural diplomacy, and we achieve this with the help of our cultural centres in Athens, Berlin and of course here in London. We also fund cultural events, groups and individuals to go abroad to present their work, as we strive to help our artists to spread their wings beyond the limited borders of the island. 

Dear friends, 

I am sure that most of you here will agree with me that undoubtedly the most international field of all is that of Cypriot archaeology; universities and research institutions, but also colleagues from all over the world have devoted their research and indeed their lives to the study of our past. These scholars are ambassadors of our culture abroad. 

One of the strongest, longstanding, and fruitful collaborations in the field of archaeology is of course that between Cyprus and the United Kingdom. For over a century, British scholars and institutions have played a vital role in unravelling the history of our island. The “Cyprus Archaeology Study Day” builds on this legacy, creating a platform for sharing knowledge and forging new paths of cooperation. 

Today, through the work of our distinguished speakers, we will explore the lives of ancient Cypriots through their material culture, examine the role of archaeology in shaping modern identities, and discuss the challenges of preserving our shared heritage in an ever-changing world. 

Thus, in conclusion, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the speakers for accepting the invitation to be a part of this workshop and for their invaluable contributions. I would also like to thank those of you who have come to participate in the event. 

To our hosts here in the High Commission of Cyprus and our colleagues from the British Museum, I am deeply grateful for their unwavering support in showcasing Cyprus’ cultural wealth here in the UK. 

Thank you very much. 

(EK/GS/MS)