Collapsed road in Cyprus reveals long-forgotten ancient tomb. See its treasures

By Aspen Pflughoeft
Part of a road in Cyprus collapsed, revealing a long-forgotten tomb from about 2,000 years ago, officials said. Photos show its artifacts.
Part of a road in Cyprus collapsed, revealing a long-forgotten tomb from about 2,000 years ago, officials said. Photos show its artifacts.

When a section of road in eastern Cyprus collapsed, officials looked into the gaping hole and were surprised to find a long-forgotten ancient tomb. Excavations revealed the roughly 2,000-year-old structure and its treasures.

Officials received a report of a collapsed road near the port of Famagusta on the evening of June 20 and immediately investigated, the Department of Antiquities and Museums of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus said in a June 24 news release.

The collapsed section of road as seen early on during excavations.
The collapsed section of road as seen early on during excavations.

Officials did not say how the road damage occurred, but photos show a mid-sized hole in the pavement. Very quickly, officials realized the collapse had exposed something historic: an ancient Greek tomb, the department said.

Follow-up excavations revealed more of the rock-cut tomb, which had a central room with three couch-like funeral beds, known as klinai. The grave’s original entrance was covered with stone blocks, the department said.

A view into the ancient Greek tomb.
A view into the ancient Greek tomb.

Officials did not provide an exact age for the tomb but dated it to the Hellenistic period, which began in Cyprus around 300 B.C. and ended in 58 B.C. when the ancient Roman empire took control of the island, according to The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Archaeologists also found several artifacts inside the 2,000-year-old tomb. Photos show some of the pottery finds, which included bowls, jars for oil, lamps, cosmetic bottles and other pots.

Some of the pottery found in the ancient Greek tomb near Famagusta port.
Some of the pottery found in the ancient Greek tomb near Famagusta port.

Another photo shows the small gold leaf artifacts found in the tomb. Other finds included bones, glass jars, coins and needle fragments, officials said.

Some gold artifacts found in the ancient Greek tomb near Famagusta port.
Some gold artifacts found in the ancient Greek tomb near Famagusta port.

Excavations of the tomb in northeastern Cyprus were ongoing as of June 24. Turkish officials said they plan to clean, inventory, analyze and conserve the finds before putting them on display.

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Cyprus is an island nation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The island is divided between the independent Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a disputed territory controlled and solely recognized by Turkey.

Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the Department of Antiquities and Museums of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Aspen Pflughoeft
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Aaron Moody is a sports and general reporter for the News & Observer. Here is a second sentence for the bio because it will probably be longer than this. Maybe even longer I don't know. Support my work with a digital subscription