Connecting crafting communities: reconstructing interactions between communities in and out of Cyprus in the early third millenium BC

The Late Chalcolithic period (ca. 2900–2400 BC) in Cyprus was a dynamic phase of significant social and material transformations, paving the way for the island’s transition into the Bronze Age. During this time, Cyprus moved away from earlier apparent isolation, exhibiting numerous indirect signs of interaction with neighboring regions. These sociocultural changes are particularly reflected in pottery, with previous studies primarily focusing on the morphological characterization of contemporary wares. This study conducts an intra- and inter-site compositional and technological analysis of ceramic fabrics from four Late Chalcolithic sites in southwestern and central Cyprus: Chlorakas-Palloures, Kissonerga-Mosphilia, Ambelikou-Agios Georghios, and Politiko-Kokkinorotsos. Various ware types were examined using ceramic thin-section petrography and handheld energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to assess their mineralogical, chemical, and technological properties. These analytical data were integrated with contextual information and a detailed macroscopic study of all selected samples. Additionally, a pottery dataset from Tarsus-Gözlükule in Anatolia was examined macroscopically and incorporated into the study to explore potential interactions between Cypriot and Anatolian crafting communities. This research aims to investigate pottery technologies and their degree of technological variability at local, regional, and interregional levels.<br>