The time periods below represent the chronological evolution of human activity on Cyprus. The prehistoric periods of course merge rather then being quite so strictly delineated. Research is taking place all the time and the system is constantly being refined. For example guide books and tourist guides often state that the site of Khirokitia is the earliest site on the island. However, It is now widely acknowledged that there were migrants to Cyprus well before this. The site of Akrotiri Aetokremnos (also called Site E) pushes occupation back by thousands of years.

• Pre-Neolithic - ca. 9825 BCE
• Neolithic - ca. 8200-3900 BCE
• Chalcolithic - ca. 3900-2500 BCE
• Prehistoric Bronze Age - ca. 2500-1600 BCE
• Late Bronze Age - ca.1600-1050 BCE
• Iron Age - ca. 1050-475 BCE
• Classical - 475-325 BCE
• Hellenistic - 325-58 BCE
• Roman - 58 BCE-330 AD
• Byzantine - 330-1191 AD
• Lusignian - 1192-1489 AD
• Venetian - 1489-1571 AD
• Ottoman - 1571-1878 AD
• British - 1878-1960 AD
• Cyprus Republic - 1960

Chronology

All of this appears very neat, and of course in reality the divisions in the Cypriot prehistoric periods are the constructs of modern archaeologists. As such there is often a great deal of variation in the literature, not only between the start and end dates used for these periods but also the terminology used as well. These time periods are also further broken down into smaller units that often initially followed what is called the 'Three Age System' originally created for the Danish National Museum.

The system rapidly became popular and can be found in the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages as well as the Early, Middle and Late systems used in many archaeological chronologies. In the link to Chronology Schemes on the left toobar, there is a page listing some of the chronologies put forward. Each of the time periods then has further details on each period and its sub-divisions.

Chronology Schemes

The chronology of Cyprus in its earliest periods is one of constant flow as new archaeological studies provide refinements or add to long running arguments. Presented below are some of the chronologies for Cyprus and they may help to explain and for you to place some of the terms that you hear.

Chronological table by I. A. Todd, 1998, Kalavasos-Tenta Guide, p9. The Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation

Chronological table by M. Given, A.B. Knapp, 2003. The Sydney Cyprus Survey Project, Table 3.1, p30. University of California.

Chronological table by E. Peltenburg, 1989. Early Society in Cyprus. Edinburgh University Press.

Examples of the evolution of Cypriot culture

A number of artefacts are presented below as examples of certain time periods.

Red Polished Ware bowl

From tomb 105 in the cemetery (site A) on the eastern slope of Vounous, Cyprus
About 2300-2100 BC

Image from The British Museum.