Enkomi – Buried Bronze Age Harbour of Alashiya, Mesaoria Plain
Alashiya (Akkadian) · Enkomi · Alashiya harbour · Mesaoria Enkomi
Late Bronze Age (1600–1050 BCE)·Cypriot-Alashiyan / Mycenaean / Levantine·🇨🇾 Famagusta District, Enkomi, Mesaoria Plain, Cyprus
About
About Enkomi – Buried Bronze Age Harbour of Alashiya, Mesaoria Plain
Enkomi on the Mesaoria Plain was the Late Bronze capital of Alashiya (Amarna letters, 14th c. BCE copper ingot kingdom) with a Pedieos River estuary harbour (400x200 m) now silted marsh 1 km from Famagusta Bay at +18 m where delta prograded 3 km after 1200 BCE Bronze collapse. The 15 ha ashlar fortified town (walls 400x300 m, Cyclopean 15 m thick) held water basins and copper workshops (ingots, oxhide) where 20 tonnes slag proves industrial harbour export to Egypt and Crete.
The estuary quay (180 m mudbrick) buried under 4 m Pedieos alluvium was cored 1980s showing marine to freshwater shift; ships up to 20 m could berth until 1150 BCE when delta silted. Salamis replaced Enkomi harbour 1100 BCE. Excavations by P. Dikaios (1948–) and French (Schaeffer).
Why it mattersOnly Alashiya capital with Cyclopean harbour capital showing Bronze Age copper ingot export to Amarna Egypt via Pedieos estuary.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether Enkomi estuary quay was riverine or tidal lagoon harbour
- 02How many oxhide ingots shipped per 14th c. BCE Amarna letter (200 talents?)
Theories
- 01Harbour chosen where Pedieos met Troodos copper mule road to hinterland
- 02Bronze collapse Sea Peoples forced wall thickening 15 m
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1600 BCE Late Bronze Enkomi as Alashiya capital
- Period
- Late Bronze Age (1600–1050 BCE)
- Culture
- Cypriot-Alashiyan / Mycenaean / Levantine
- Builders
- Alashiyans / Cypriots
- Purpose
- Alashiyan copper ingot harbour capital on Pedieos estuary to Egypt and Crete
- Abandoned
- c. 1050 BCE after Bronze collapse and Pedieos delta silt
- Rediscovered
- 1930 by French Schaeffer; Dikaios 1948–
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1600 BCE
Enkomi founded as Alashiya capital on Pedieos estuary harbour
c. 1350 BCE
Amarna letters Alashiya king to Pharaoh ships copper ingots via Pedieos harbour
c. 1200 BCE
Sea Peoples attack; Enkomi fortifies Cyclopean walls 15 m thick
1100 BCE
Harbour silted 3 km inland; Salamis refounded at coast
On the ground
Structures & features
35.1583° N · 33.8917° E · 18 m · 2 mapped features
Pedieos estuary harbour basin 400x200 m
harbour400x200 m estuary harbour basin now marsh at +18 m 1 km from bay
35.1590° N · 33.8920° ECyclopean walls 15 m thick
fortificationCyclopean ashlar walls 15 m thick 8 m high around 15 ha town
35.1570° N · 33.8900° E