The Formation of Cyprus in the 2nd Millenium B.C.

Many questions about the Middle and Late Cypriot Bronze Age remain unanswered, especially those concerned with chronology, social transformation and the development of local entities or industries. The title of this collection of papers The Formation of Cyprus was chosen to emphasize the fact that local community activities and trade on a local scale had a considerable influence on island-wide development and, in this instance, on the formation of society in the Bronze Age. The idea was to highlight the complexity and variability in the historical formation of the island during the 2nd Millennium B.C., which resulted in the island-wide material culture of the Late Cypriot Period II and later stages. In the discussions at the congress it became clear that a focussed debate on the Bronze Age was essential. It became clear during the workshop and during the very lively discussions that the characterization of the regions of Cyprus is problematic and that further discussion is needed, not just of the Middle Cypriot and Late Cypriot phases. As can be seen from the contributions, detailed interpretation of material groups, of local entities, of architecture, the distribution of wares and of fabrics is essential in order to enhance our understanding of Cypriot life and social development in the 2nd Millennium B.C.