Remains of late Bronze Age fortress unearthed in Cyprus

Washington, June 21 (ANI): Researchers at the University of Cincinnati say that the remains of a late Bronze Age fortress (1500-750 B.C.) unearthed in Cyprus may have protected an important urban economic center in the ancient world.

UC's Gisela Walberg most recent research at the ancient city of Bamboula - an important trading center for the Middle East, Egypt and Greece - revealed the remnants of a fortress that may have functioned to protect the urban economic center further inland, which does not seem to have been fortified.

Clues to the function of the structure were clear to Walberg.

"It's quite clear that it is a fortress because of the widths and strengths of the walls. No house wall from that period would have that strength. That would have been totally unnecessary," she said, noting that one wall is 4.80 meters thick.

"And it is on a separate plateau, which has a wonderful location you can look north to the mountains or over the river, and you can see the Mediterranean to the south-so you can see whoever is approaching."

The recent find is also particularly significant because there is another older site within walking distance, of the fortress called Alassa - a large economic center for trading agricultural products and metal.

"Our find, the fortress, fills the gap in time in between this early settlement and the very big, important economic center. It probably was the center, the core, from which urbanization began in the area," Walberg said.

The research will be presented at the annual workshop of the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Center in Nicosia, Cyprus. (ANI)