The Department of Antiquities (Greek: Τμήμα Αρχαιοτήτων, romanized: Tmíma Archaiotíton) is a government department of the Republic of Cyprus with responsibility for archaeological research and cultural heritage management.[1]
Formation | 1935 |
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Legal status | Government department (Deputy Ministry of Culture) |
Headquarters | Nicosia |
Region served | Cyprus |
Website | www |
The Department of Antiquities was established in 1935 by the British colonial government.[2] It took over the responsibilities of the Committee of the Cyprus Museum that was established in 1882.[3]
It has conducted excavations at Khoirokoitia, Kition, Amathus, Kourion, Paphos, Salamis, Enkomi and carried multiple rescue excavations all around the island. The Department of Antiquities operates various archaeological sites such as Idalion, Kourion, Paphos Archaeological Park and museums like the Cyprus Museum, archaeological district museums of Paphos, Limassol, Kition and smaller local museums like the Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Mansion.
In 1955 the Director Peter Megaw established the Archaeological Survey Branch and appointed Hector Catling as the head, Kyriacos Nicolaou as an Assistant and a number of technicians.[4] The Branch was discontinued in 1974.[5]
Until 1960 the conservation works focused only on monuments dating to antiquity, the Byzantine and Medieval period. Since then there have been restoration of Ottoman, British Colonial and Traditional monuments.[6]
From 1935 until the 1st of July 2023 the Department operated under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, until its transfer in the newly created Deputy Ministry of Culture.[7]
The Department publishes since 1915 the Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus (RDAC) as well as the Annual Report of the Director of the Department of Antiquities Cyprus (ARDAC). The ARDAC for the years 2006-2009 can be accessed online. Additionally, it publishes its own excavations.
The department is headed by the Director of the Department of Antiquities, next in line is the position of the Director of the Cyprus Museum and following that, the Curator of Monuments.