The evidence for fresh new results of the Italian Archaeological Mission at Erimi (Cyprus) have been given significant visibility in the July–August 2025 issue of Archeologia Viva. The magazine, which also features the project on its cover, dedicates extensive coverage to the Italian Archaeological Project, which has been active for over fifteen years.
The Italian Archaeological Mission at Erimi (Cyprus) is a project led by the University of Siena, in close collaboration with the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus. The Italian research program benefits from partnerships with local institutions and international research centers, and is supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as well as by the Italian Embassy in Nicosia.
The systematic investigation of this Middle Bronze Age community (2000–1600 BCE) has revealed a workshop complex dedicated to textile production, located at the top of the hill close to the residential area. The settlement includes living spaces and dwellings for family gatherings, while an extensive funerary area extends beyond the settlement.
Among the most significant results of the fieldwork conducted by the Italian project is the recent loceation of a small shrine within the workshop, along with a large circuit wall. This structure, built directly onto the hill bedrock, likely reached at least two meters in height, with a stone foundation and a superstructure presumably constructed in timber and clay, which has not survived.
The wall, which encircled the settlement and separated it from the funerary clusters represents both a remarkable architectural achievement and a major collective undertaking. Its construction reflects the Erimi community’s effort to protect its living space, while also expressing the desire to define and monumentalize shared areas. Thus, the wall functioned not only as a defensive structure, but also as a symbol of social cohesion and identity, representing a community at the height of its economic and social development.
Communicating and promoting outcomes of the research to a broader and more diverse audience within and beyond the scientific arena is one of the key objectives pursued by the Italian Archaeological Mission at Erimi. This is achieved through public and community archaeology initiatives, both in Cyprus—in the framework of bilateral collaborations with local cultural partners—and in Italy, with the aim at enhancing a broader knowledge of Cypriote Archaeological Heritage.
