• 1 J. Bretschneider, A. Kanta, J. Driessen, Excavations at Pyla-Kokkinokremos. Report on the 2014–2019 (...)
• 2 See also the first preliminary report of the renewed excavations in Erimi Pitharka: L. Recht, K. Ze (...)
• 3 See especially J. H. Sterba, “Neutron Activation Analysis of the Pottery Corpus of Hala Sultan Tekk (...)
• 4 For additional recently published ongoing studies see various contributions in T. Bürge, P. M. Fisc (...)

3Chapter 3 is dedicated to the new site evidence from the Late Cypriot period with summaries of recent results from Hala Sultan Tekke Vyzakia, Pyla Kokkinokremos, Maroni Vournes and Tsaroukkas, Kalavasos Ayios Dhimitrios, Alassa Pano Mantilaris and Paliotaverna, Erimi Pitharka, Aredhiou Vouppes, Ayios Sozomenos Dzirpoulos and Ampelia, Phlamoudhi Vounari and Palaipaphos. These serve as helpful overviews, in specific regarding those sites of which only preliminary reports exist, and which greatly benefit from insights by the project directors who also provided site maps, plans, photographs and other illustrations of excellent quality. For the sake of completeness, the comprehensive report of the 2014-2019 campaigns at Pyla Kokkinokremos should be mentioned,1 which appeared shortly after the publication of the book under review2. In addition, various analytical results to which Knapp refers in regard to Hala Sultan Tekke’s interregional connections (p. 22)3 are now published.4

• 5 P. M. Fischer, T. Bürge, “The New Swedish Cyprus Expedition 2017: Excavations at Hala Sultan Tekke (...)
• 6 P. M. Fischer, T. Bürge, Two Late Cypriot City Quarters at Hala Sultan Tekke: The Söderberg Expedit (...)
• 7 P. M. Fischer, T. Bürge, “The New Swedish Cyprus Expedition 2019: Excavations at Hala Sultan Tekke (...)

4A re‑evaluation of mercantile and ceremonial activities in light of recent results is offered in Chapter 4. As Knapp points out, there are no unambiguous criteria to identify such activities in the archaeological record, but new evidence from monumental structures, industrial activities, storage spaces, as well as specific finds such as scale pans and weights indicate the increasing involvement of the Cypriot coastal centres in (maritime) trade. Besides the possible ‘merchant burials’ listed by Knapp (pp. 38‑39), Tomb LL at Hala Sultan Tekke, dated to LCIIA yielded a set of nine sphendonoid weights of haematite.5 It provides further evidence of an emerging elite’s involvement in mercantile activities. As regards possible ceremonial structures unearthed during the last two decades, two contexts from Hala Sultan Tekke could be added to Knapp’s discussion: Room 18 in CQ1, where a large, Cypriot-produced, pictorial krater dated to the beginning of LCIIIA was found next to a centrally placed ashlar block, along with a wall bracket and fragments of tableware.6 Just a few metres south-east, in two occupational layers preliminarily dated to LCIIB‑C, a 10 m wide space with a stone platform in the centre (the northern limits have not yet been exposed) yielded deposits of broken tableware and a significant amount of animal bones which may hint at (ritual) consumption.7

• 8 E.g. V. Karageorghis, M. V. Demas, Pyla-Kokkinokremos: A Late 13th-Century B.C. Fortified Settlemen (...)
• 9 J. Bretschneider, A. Kanta, J. Driessen, Excavations at Pyla-Kokkinokremos. Report on the 2014–2019 (...)

5As regards the character of Pyla Kokkinokre­mos (p. 44), new results may demonstrate that mercantile activities took place: the location of the site at the coast, its large variety of imported goods from regions ranging from Sardinia to the Levant and from Greece to Egypt, the presence of scale weights and a scale pan,8 evidence of processing of copper-based metals as well as silver and gold, in addition to textile industry ; it is therefore hard to conceive that Pyla was not actively involved in large-scale exchange9 and it may well be included into Knapp’s list of “sites clearly involved in production and exchange” (p. 43).

• 10 E.g. A. Georgiadou, A. Georgiou, “Spinning, weaving and purple dyeing at Kition: new evidence for t (...)

6Chapter 5 is a brief outlook to the Late Bronze to Iron Age transition, in particular as regards continuous developments in a macro historic approach versus disruption and changes. Taking into account the ongoing research at Kition,10 it would have been interesting to include recent results from the site which is cursorily mentioned. The book concludes with a concise summary of Knapp’s final thoughts on Late Bronze Age Cyprus (Chapter 6).

• 11 The reference to Peltenburg 1991 on p. 41, seems to be missing in the bibliography. Knapp most like (...)

7The book is well-written and presented, which makes it accessible to a non-specialist audience,11 and the illustrations are of excellent quality. It is in the nature of ongoing projects that there is a constant growth of publications, and that interpretations may change whenever new material evidence or analytical results come to light. Taking this into consideration, Knapp’s monograph offers a systematic overview of the current state of research including the most relevant publications. It is therefore an invaluable resource for non-experts in Late Bronze Age Cyprus. Thanks to its very affordable price, it is highly recommended to anyone – and specifically to students – interested in the archaeology of Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean.