Critical Approaches to Cypriot and Wider Mediterranean Archaeology - (Volume 16) - Sturt W. Manning
17. Seascapes and Maritime Capacity of Late Roman Cyprus
Critical Approaches to Cypriot and Wider Mediterranean Archaeology - (Volume 16) - Sturt W. Manning
Stella Demesticha [+]
University of Cyprus
Description
This paper discusses some key concepts of maritime archaeology in the context of Late Roman Cyprus, namely maritime cultures, coast- and seascapes. On the basis of textual and archaeological evidence, as well as of contemporary geographical and meteorological features, it is argued that the island’s coastal zone should not be considered as a homogenous entity. Five possible coastscapes are distinguished with diverse connectivity attributes and seas with different names, according to texts of Roman geographers. This kind of information is related with the ancient mariners’ common sense geography, which, coupled with archaeological evidence from rural anchorages, can illuminate elements of ancient maritime cognitive landscapes. It is in this respect that underwater anchorage assemblages, located all along the Cypriot coast, are discussed in this paper. Most of the them were dated to multiple periods, but almost all had a strong Late Roman phase. This is not surprising, given the island’s prosperity during the three centuries of this period (5th – 7th centuries AD), which was coupled with an unprecedented peak in rural expansion and coastal activity. Despite the full exploitation of its maritime capacity, however, no major changes in established practices seem to have happened. Moreover, although there is no evidence to suggest that the island was rich in natural havens in antiquity, the location of anchorages at places completely unprotected today from the prevailing winds is intriguing. It indicates that that the shoreline was more sinuous before erosion eliminated small inlets, especially all along the south and the east coast. On this basis, this paper argues that Late Roman Cyprus shapes an ideal context for the study of the island’s maritime culture, in the longue durée.