Laser Scans Uncover 23 Ship Carvings at Cyprus Temple

High-resolution laser scans of a temple wall at the site of Kition Kathari in Cyprus have revealed 23 previously undocumented ship carvings. The discovery significantly expands the known collection of nautical graffiti at the site, which overlooks the bay of the ancient city's harbor.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati conducted the scans as part of a broader study on ashlar masonry practices during the Late Bronze Age on Cyprus. They did not expect to find new images. We had not expected to find them-our intention going into the project was to laser scan the blocks in order to add to our larger study about ashlar masonry and Late Bronze Age masonry practices on the island, said Caroline Barnes of the University of British Columbia.

A Chronology of Carvings

The new finds change the timeline of the site's nautical art. A 1982 study of the temple's southern wall had recorded 19 ship images, all believed to have been carved around the same period. The laser scanning project has now identified an additional 23 carvings. One key discovery was a ship image on a block used to repair the wall approximately 150 years after its original construction.

This repair block indicates the carvings were not a single event. Researchers now believe the illustrations were made over a span of as many as 300 years. The styles of the depicted boats themselves support this extended chronology.

Identifying the Fleet

The carvings depict a variety of vessel types from across the eastern Mediterranean. Archaeologists have identified the illustrations as Levantine merchantmen, Minoan sailing ships, galleys from the Carmel Coast, and a local Cypriot vessel. This diversity reflects the interconnected maritime world of the Late Bronze Age.

The table below summarizes the types of vessels identified in the carvings.

A Community Connected to the Sea

The concentration of ship graffiti on a temple wall overlooking the harbor speaks to the central role of seafaring in this ancient community. Graham Braun of the University of Cincinnati noted, "We can imagine that ships and seafaring were a common part of everyday life in the community."

The findings suggest that sailors, merchants, or other individuals visiting or working at the port may have etched the images over generations. The temple's location made it a prominent landmark for those arriving by sea. The full research is detailed in the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology.