The Cyprus Institute (CyI) is proud to announce the establishment of a new research collaboration with the New Swedish Cyprus Expedition at Hala Sultan Tekke.

The Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center (STARC) of CyI is engaged in archaeological research directed by Professor Peter M. Fischer (University of Gothenburg, Sweden) at Hala Sultan Tekke, a Late Bronze Age harbour city, just south of modern-day Larnaca,

A STARC-team, led by Associate Professor Sorin Hermon, and using the unique STARLAB mobile laboratory as well as equipment from the Andreas Pittas Art Characterization (APAC) laboratories, has investigated the materiality, production techniques and manufacture style of various important artefacts found during the excavation. By using 3D high-precision structured-light scanning, PhD student Martina Polig has applied 3D shape analysis and scientific visualisation methods, and Dr. Svetlana Gasanova, Associate Research Scientist, has conducted chemical-physical non-invasive research, based on spectroscopy, digital microscopy and multi-spectral imaging. Glenn De hooghe, an Erasmus+ intern at The Cyprus Institute, was also part of the field archaeology team, providing topography mapping and aerial photogrammetry expertise.

Assistant Professor Kirsi Lorentz, leads a second STARC-team, which focuses on state-of-the-art bioarchaeological analyses to explore human health in the context of extensive metal working at Hala Sultan Tekke, as well as other aspects of human life at the site. Dr. Lorentz’s team consists of Dr. Simone Lemmers (Postdoctoral Fellow), three PhD students, and two research assistants (incl. Erasmus). The team will use synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence (SR-mXRF), bone and dental histology, palaeoparasitology, as well as other methods.

Part of the osteobiographical research takes place within the framework of the Research Promotion Foundation funded project “Face to Face: Meet an Ancient Cypriot” coordinated by Assistant Professor Kirsi Lorentz.