Archaeology in the smallest realm

Over the last decade, ‘archaeological science’ applied to the study of prehistoric and protohistoric contexts in Cyprus has seen an infusion of new data, bringing vital supporting evidence to the study of early communities on the island. Thanks to the increasing number of projects open to interdisciplinary dialogues and research initiative by local institutions and by foreign universities, the application of high-resolution techniques to the examination of dep- ositional sequences, archaeological materials and bioarchaeological remains is contributing to the generation of multi-proxy data in support of the study of prehistoric and protohistoric Cyprus and providing new multi-scalar, interdisciplinary evidence which can be used to investigate issues of wide archaeological interest. These include the emergence of community identity and complexity, human-environment interactions – including factors effecting health and economic growth – and processes leading to cultural exchange, mobility and migration. The aim of this volume is to outline the state of the art of ongoing research in Cyprus through a collection of short papers which discuss methodological approaches and new research results from the study of prehistoric and protohistoric contexts on the island. The purpose is to highlight advancements in the application of integrated macro and micro approaches in Cypriot archaeology, thanks in large part to the contribution of early career researchers.

Marialucia Amadio is specilised in integrated micromorphological approaches to the study of occupation sequences and building materials in Mediterranean prehistoric contexts. Her research interests lie at the intersection between archaeological science and social theory, specifically geoarchaeology, materiality and social science. She was awarded a PhD by the University of Reading for a thesis on Architecture and Urbanisation in Bronze Age Cyprus: local and regional innovation in material, technology and social representation. She is a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Civilisation and Forms of Knowledge, Unversità di Pisa, Italy. Marialucia is currently working on pre- historic contexts in Cyprus by application of high-resolution analyses to the study of occupation and abandonment sequences of Middle Bronze Age key sites of the island.