Prehistoric Cyprus, Egypt, and Long-Distance Trade: Fact of Fiction?

Sharon R. Steadman

The geographical location of Cyprus, near the coasts of Anatolian and the Levant, made it a logical maritime port in the Middle and Late Bronze Ages. However, the role that Cyprus might have played in the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze Age exchange networks of the Near Eastern mainland is not quite so clear. The presence of "foreign material" on prehistoric Cyprus, that is, objects that either originated on the mainland, or are clearly influenced by Anatolian, Levantine (Syro-Palestinian), or Egyptian material culture, suggest that some type of contact did occur in these prehistoric periods. The Egyptian material is of particular interest since it would indicate quite an elaborate, long-range exchange system in place during the Early Bronze Age. However, closer inspection indicates that the "foreign" objects in the prehistoric Cypriot assemblages do not seem sufficient to indicate any types of standardized exchange with the Near Eastern mainland. Clearly an alternative explanation for their presence on Cyprus must be sought.

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