ARCHITECTURAL AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF SPACE IN LATE NEOLITHIC CYPRUS: THE NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE REVISITED

Abstract

This paper examines the topography and architecture of Late Neolithic sites in Cyprus and the ways in which building organization affects the social structure of local communities. The number of excavated Late Neolithic sites on the island is indeed limited, although a few more have been located by recent archaeological surveys. These sites are dispersed in the northern and south or southeastern part of Cyprus on different localities and landscapes. Based on the evidence deriving from ceramic studies,it has been traditionally assumed that the island presents clear signs of regionalism during this period. This paper presents some further thoughts on this phenomenon,albeit from a different point of view, that of the architecture and spatial organization. The proposed schema for understanding how space was perceived and organised by local communities at this time requires investigation of the following parameters:

a. ratio of built and non-built areas b. circulation (with reference to settlement plan and wider environment) c. function of built and non-built area and d. land use.

The investigation of those parameters in each settlement will form the basis of a comparative analysis and the construction of an integrated picture of the period in question.