The New Swedish Cyprus Expedition: The 2023 and 2024 excavations at the Late Bronze Age cemetery of Hala Sultan Tekke. Preliminary results

The 14th and 15th excavation seasons at the Late Bronze Age site of Hala Sultan Tekke focused on the excavation of tombs threatened by agricultural activities and erosion. Magnetic anomalies detected in 2017 aligned with concentrations of sherds in the ploughed soil, revealing six tombs: the partly looted Chamber Tomb VV and the intact Chamber Tombs XX, YY, ZZ, AB East and AB West. These stratified tombs, with successive interments, complement the occupation sequence of the 25+ ha city, where excavations have been ongoing since 2010. The rich mortuary goods, dating mainly to the 14th–13th centuries BC, confirm Hala Sultan Tekke’s role as a major Mediterranean trade hub. Material evidence indicates connections with Mycenaean, Minoan, Hittite, Levantine and Egyptian cultures, extending as far as Sardinia, the Baltic, Mesopotamia, Afghanistan and India. The tombs also provide insights into Late Cypriot mortuary customs.