Nicosia, Cyprus. An archaeologists’ association on Wednesday called for stronger state protection of cultural heritage, warning that increasing construction activity across government-controlled areas and the north is putting archaeological sites and monuments under pressure.
Warning over development impacts
In a statement, the association said the island’s cultural landscape, which it described as “a carrier of historical memory, collective identity and social continuity”, is facing “serious and often irreversible impacts” from development projects carried out without sufficient planning or safeguards for heritage protection.
Concerns in government-controlled areas
The association cited ongoing construction of hotel and residential developments near ancient Amathus in Limassol, plans for a multi storey building close to the Famagusta Gate in Nicosia, and continued pressure for large scale projects in the wider Akamas region, including Ayios Georgios Peyias and the sea caves.
Concerns in the north
The association said the situation in the north was “even more worrying” because of what it described as “the absence of effective supervision and protection mechanisms under Turkish occupation”.
According to the group, extensive construction activity has been observed along the Kyrenian mountain range from Kormakitis to Karpasia, including in Ayios Ambrosios, Kalograia and Akanthou.
It added that particular concern surrounds the area near the medieval monastery of Panayia Melandrina, where excavation works and dumping of rubble from a nearby quarry have reportedly taken place close to surviving remains. “This poses a serious risk of alteration of the natural and archaeological landscape,” the statement said.
The association also pointed to large scale apartment, holiday home and tourism developments in the Trikomo area and the coastal region of Famagusta, including areas linked to environmentally sensitive coastal zones.
It further referred to reports of planned interventions in the Karpasia peninsula, describing the area as one of “exceptional ecological and cultural importance”.
Access to common cultural heritage
“The destruction or degradation of historical landscapes, monuments and archaeological sites, deprives all residents of Cyprus of the right to access their common cultural heritage,” the association said.
What steps do you think the state should take to strengthen protection of archaeological sites and monuments?
