The Copper Mines of Cyprus

Abstract

There is no doubt that during the historical period Cyprus was a copper-mining centre of great importance; not only does the literary evidence testify to this, but also the large slag-heaps found in many parts of the island. It is not our intention, however, to treat of this period, but to examine how far Cyprus produced copper during the bronze age.Prof. Gjerstad has, in his Studies on Prehistoric Cyprus, shewn that at least till the end of the bronze age there seems to be no racial change in the population, the cultural development being steady. During Late Cypriot II and III, however, Mycenean ware and its local imitations become so frequent that it is likely that Mycenean overlords were ruling in Cyprus; such a state of affairs fits in well with Mycenean history of this time, and probably now Cyprus began to be hellenised.