Archaeologists have discovered a Sanctuary of Apollo in Pera Orinis-Fragkissa Lefkosia, Cyprus. The Sanctuary is considered one of the most important structures found in Cyprus, as it contains many priceless sculptures. The building was actually part of a ‘rescue excavation’ in 1885, but afterward, the exact location of the Sanctuary was tragically forgotten:
The survey revealed not only a high concentration of pottery shards, but also fragments of ancient sculptures and terracotta figurines in a relatively narrowly-defined area. A geophysical survey by ground penetrating radar, carried out in cooperation with the University of Cyprus under the direction of Apostolos Sarris, confirmed the findings.
Structures located deep beneath the ground can only be found in the part of the valley that was also prominent in the archaeological survey.
A preliminary analysis of the finds showed that the area had been occupied since the Iron Age and was used throughout the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods. The numerically smaller finds from the Roman and Byzantine era are considerably more eroded, however, and most likely originate from a settlement of this period further downstream, which is already known.
Image via the Greek Reporter