Britain and the Archaeology of Cyprus. I. The long 19th century

This paper is the first of a planned two part survey of British contributions to the archaeology of Cyprus from the 18 th century down to the present day.But what do we mean by "British" in this context?At first the question might appear self-evident or at least rhetorical.People and institutions of British origin or affiliation have played a leading role in the collection, excavation, study and display of the island's material past for over two hundred years.Beginning in the "mythical age" (as Myres described it) 1 of amateur excavation and collection in the 18 th and earlier 19th centuries, and developing through more scientific (or at least systematic) excavations in the late 1800s, the intensity of British involvement in Cypriot archaeology is reflected in the wealth of Cypriot antiquities found in museums, large and small, throughout the United Kingdom.The study of the most important of these collections, especially those in London and Oxford, helped to lay the foundations of the modern discipline of Cypriot archaeology by the end of the 19 th century, especially through the work of John Myres, "father of Cypriot archaeology".On Cyprus itself, the period of British rule between 1878 and 1960 also witnessed key developments such as the evolution of legislative, administrative and institutional frameworks, as well as the emergence of recognisably modern standards of excavation, publication and the conservation of sites and monuments.The first wave of truly scientific excavations, although initiated by the Swedish Cyprus Expedition in 1927, also included major contributions from key figures with British connections such as James Stewart (Cambridge-educated and working under the auspices of British School at Athens), and Joan Taylor with her close links to Institute of Archaeology in London. 2 Likewise, if the modernisation of local archaeological * The second part of the article will be published in CCEC 43, 2013.