The last few months of the project have been particularly intense. Between April 3rd and June 15th, the study season in Paphos and Episkopi (Kourion) took place. The research works focused on the continuation of the macroscopic analysis of pottery, drawing and photographic documentation and, in the case of Kourion, the selection of fragments for further laboratory analysis. In addition to the project’s principal investigator, the season was attended by Kamila Niziołek, M.Sc., who was responsible for vessel reconstruction, drawing documentation and assisting in the creation of the database.
During the stay in Paphos, samples were taken from previously selected vessels and, after being approved by the Department of Antiquities in Nicosia, transported to the Fitch Laboratory in the British School at Athens. In this laboratory, the project manager is carrying out the first part of the internship planned under the grant. The stay at BSA is related to learning to analyse the thin sections under the petrographic microscope and prepare the samples for chemical analysis (Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence method). The latter requires small ceramic fragments to be mechanically cleaned and finely ground in a mortar made of agate. This is the starting point for further sample preparation steps required for analysis.
The internship will be discontinued at the beginning of September and is scheduled to resume in November this year.
