Neolithic Choirokoitia (Cyprus) – Detail of single dwelling

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• published: 17 Mar 2016
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PREVIEW: Archaeological reconstruction of single dwelling within the Aceramic-Neolithic village “Choirokoitia”, established circa 7 millennium BC, Prehistoric Cyprus. This site constitutes the first permanent settlement on the island (the preceding epipalaeolithic sites such as Aetokremnos were brief refuges for mobile Hunter-Gatherers, quick to abandon the site and potentially island after exploitation of resources) due to demic-diffusion, formulated by Levantine agriculturalists across the shore in the early Neolithic epoch, thus first evidence for high civilisation among native Cypriots through such material culture. The Maroni river is included in the hill-slope topography of the reconstruction, primary source of water for the locals, situated 6km from the sea. Latest archaeological findings attest to the flat domed typology of all Neolithic Choirokoitian dwellings, instead of previous held beliefs of these being similar to late bronze age tholos ‘bee-hive’ examples, indicative of the Mycenaeans or Nuragic peoples. Fragments of burnt earth, the collapsed remains of a roof over the terrazzo-style floor of a building destroyed by fire testify to this. Thus the circular flat roofed typology of Choirokoitia was infact similar to those in the Neolithic Near East across the shore. The peoples whom constructed these sites, both in Cyprus as immigrants and the Levant originally, were both Neolithic descendants of the semi-sedentary epipalaeolithic Natufian culture, prime evidence of demic-diffusion. The dwellings were made of indigenous stone in the corbelled method and covered with stuccoed plaster, they were often adjoined alongside one another with narrow entrances, emulating early fortifications and easily defensible access/exit points. The first Cypriot anthropomorphic diabase figures found in Choirokoitia are also included in this reconstruction, potentially sign of deistic symbolism. For reconstruction of entire village of Chroirokoitia see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEfkG.... Choirokoitia is just as important a contender as Catalhoyuk in terms of how the cumulative agricultural process inevitably spurred sedentary large-scale populations in the Near East. Both sites having been established at the beginning of the 7th millennium BC are of equal significance i feel. Choirokoitia allows for insight into differing social stratification based on individual responsibilities maintaining this new agrarian order, and the ramifications of hunter-gathering to agricultural modes of subsistence on ritual and symbolic culture (first anthropomorphic statuettes in Cyprus in situ shown in reconstruction). This animation preview was completed in the demo version of Lumion renderer, hence the watermark. Entire design and animation created by Christopher Antoniou ©. - Please SUBSCRIBE to my YOUTUBE channel for all new material -