The Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus is establisht in 1935. It is responsible for the excavation, conservation and promotion of ancient remains, and at the same time for the conservation, restoration and promotion of Cyprus’ ancient monuments as a whole. It is also responsible for the function, the enrichment, the expansion and the establishment of public archaeological museums.

The first Director of the Department of Antiquities was J.R. Hilton. Hilton was succeeded by A.H.S. Megaw, a 26-year-old architect, who maintained his post until the independence of Cyprus in 1960.

The years following the establishment of the Department of Antiquities until 1960, witnessed an increasing excavation activity (with the exception of the intervals 1940-44 and 1955-59), mainly on behalf of the Department but also of various foreign missions. Large scale excavations were undertaken in Egkomi, Salamis, Kourion and Erimi. It is during this period that Porphyrios Dikaios, Curator and later Director of the Department of Antiquities, thrived. Dikaios associated his name with the prehistoric period of the island, and especially the Neolithic.

The independence of Cyprus gave a new thrust to the excavation activity on the island, under the directorship of Vassos Karageorghis. Large scale excavations in Salamis continued, while new ones started in Kition, Nea Pafos and elsewhere, both by the Department of Antiquities and by foreign missions.

The Turkish invasion of 1974 brought great disaster to the archaeology of the island: every legal archaeological activity in the occupied areas came to a halt and the archaeological sites, the museums, the monuments and the churches remained neglected, while many of these suffered all sorts of violations. An unknown number of antiquities and works of Byzantine art was illegally exported from the island.

After 1974 an increasing number of foreign archaeological missions in the unoccupied areas of the island was noted, as a result of the international interest in the archaeology of Cyprus. A large number of excavations was undertaken at Choirokoitia, Kition, Amathus, Kourion, Pafos and elsewhere.

The importance of tourism in the recovery of the island’s economy after the disaster of 1974 was vital. The Department of Antiquities played (and still plays) an important role in the achievement of this major economic and national goal.

Present Director of the Department of Antiquities is Dr. Maria Hadjicosti.

Tags: A.H.S. Megaw, Cyprus Museum, Department of Antiquities, J.R. Hilton, Maria Hadjicosti, Porphyrios Dikaios, Vassos Karageorghis

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