During the Early Bronze Age the first towns and economic centres developed
in Cyprus where copper was worked and exported. At this time the island developed
commercial and cultural relations with Asia Minor, Egypt, and the Syrian/Palestinian
region. This fresh impulse resulted from an influx of immigrants from Anatolia
who were displaced from their settlements in Asia Minor by invading tribes.
The newcomers brought with them, along with their customs, a shiny dark red
type of pottery, known as red polished ware.
The dead were interred in rock cut tombs accessed by long narrow passages.
Most of our knowledge of this period is derived from finds in cemeteries,
for although the island seems to have been thickly populated at this time,
no settlements have yet been identified. Judging by the multitude of articles
placed with the dead - bowls, jugs, food, combs, knives, necklaces, spinnings
whorls etc. - the afterlife was evidently an important cultural feature of
these Bronze Age people.
A clay model found in Vounous showed the existence of enclosed areas, or
temenoi, which served as sanctuaries. This model, representing a religious
ceremony, centres on three symbolic figures wearing bull masks and holding
snakes. The significance of bull images, representing the god of fertility,
in this mainly agricultural community are reminiscent of similar traditions
noted in the Anatolian settlement of Alaca Hoyuk. The snakes represent the
chthonic god of the underworld and are associated with the annual cycle of
regeneration: snakes were observed to disappear into the ground in winter
(hibernation) and re-emerge (rebirth) the following spring.
Another model, depicting two pairs of oxen drawing ploughs, shows that some
agricultural techniques have remained essentially unchanged for some 4000
years.
Other grave finds, including articles of gold, glass beads, and cylinder
seals, suggest trading links with Syria and Egypt. Flat, card shaped idols
with incised designs are also characteristic of the Early Bronze Age.
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North Cyprus
