Imagined Greeks or a Refugee Narrative?: Reassessing views on migration during the Late Bronze Age Collapse (c. 1200 BCE) on Cyprus

At the end of the Late Bronze Age, around 1200 BCE, a wave of destructions raged over the eastern-Mediterranean. Many theories argue that migrant populations, mainly from the Aegean sphere, are responsible for the devastations. In their journey, Cyprus was an important stop en route, making the island an important location to test these theories. However, in recent research the role that indigenous populations played in the destruction events is being emphasized. In this research, it is investigated whether the indigenous populations of Cyprus might in fact be responsible for many, if not all of the events of destruction on the island at the end of the Late Bronze Age. To investigate this hypothesis, Enkomi, Hala Sultan Tekke and Pyla-Kokkinokremos were studied diachronically. In the tumultuous period of the LBA Collapse, these sites were continuous, destroyed and newly founded respectfully. From their excavation reports, the presence of foreign elements is analysed using the...Show moreAt the end of the Late Bronze Age, around 1200 BCE, a wave of destructions raged over the eastern-Mediterranean. Many theories argue that migrant populations, mainly from the Aegean sphere, are responsible for the devastations. In their journey, Cyprus was an important stop en route, making the island an important location to test these theories. However, in recent research the role that indigenous populations played in the destruction events is being emphasized. In this research, it is investigated whether the indigenous populations of Cyprus might in fact be responsible for many, if not all of the events of destruction on the island at the end of the Late Bronze Age. To investigate this hypothesis, Enkomi, Hala Sultan Tekke and Pyla-Kokkinokremos were studied diachronically. In the tumultuous period of the LBA Collapse, these sites were continuous, destroyed and newly founded respectfully. From their excavation reports, the presence of foreign elements is analysed using the concept of deep change to see whether the elements sufficiently constitute to a foreign presence or are merely the result of other modes of interaction (trade, raids). Additionally, a settlement model analysis of site development was applied to see whether internal dynamics, such as competition and rivalry, could have played a part in the destruction episode. From the analyses, it is clear that no large-scale migration to Cyprus had taken place. Aegean people were most likely present in the Cypriot sites, but this concerns small-scale populations and is unrelated to a large-scale migration event whatsoever. The events at Hala Sultan Tekke and Pyla might be better explained in relation to the nearby economically competing site of Kition. At Enkomi the evidence is ambiguous, neither being explained by the previously proposed migration theory, nor by internal dynamics. It is concluded that based on the evidence from the three sites, a large-scale Aegean migration is insufficiently supported. Rather, the workings of intra-insular dynamics between settlement systems appear more plausible as explanation. The Aegean traces, then, are the result of trade interaction and the presence of small groups of Aegean descent.Show less

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Imagined Greeks or a Refugee Narrative? Reassessing views on migration during the Late Bronze Age Collapse (c. 1200 BCE) on Cyprus