The Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw will set up a research centre in Paphos, Cyprus, where the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw expeditions have been working for over half a century. It will be the third foreign research post of the centre.

The first Polish archaeologists appeared in Cyprus over half a century ago, with the doyen of Polish Mediterranean archaeology, Prof. Kazimierz Michałowski. Since 1965, a PCMA UW expedition has been working in Nea Paphos, one of the ancient capitals of the island. Its discoveries, including wonderful works of mosaic art and sculpture, contributed to the site’s enrollment to the UNESCO World Heritage List. These discoveries not only added to the knowledge of ancient culture, art and history of Cyprus and the entire Mediterranean world, but also contributed to the development of the city, becoming one of the biggest tourist attractions of Cyprus.

The PCMA UW expedition has been operating in Paphos for over 55 years and is the longest-running foreign archaeological research project in Cyprus. For over a decade, an expedition of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow has also been working in Nea Paphos, conducting research on the Agora, in the central part of the city. Recently, both expeditions have been combined into a joint project of the University of Warsaw, Jagiellonian University, and Warsaw University of Technology. There are also individual grant projects by several Polish researchers.

“The history of Polish research in Cyprus is very long and fruitful. After talks with the Cypriot side, we came to the conclusion that prospects for the future are equally far-reaching,” explains Assist. Prof. Artur Obłuski, Director of the PCMA UW. “Therefore, it is worth institutionalizing this cooperation by setting up a permanent Research Centre in Paphos. Its presence and support will make the work of researchers visiting Cyprus easier and more efficient, just as is the case with the PCMA UW Research Centre in Cairo. Thanks to the new Research Centre, it will also be easier to create and implement joint Cypriot–Polish projects,” says Obłuski.

Prof. Ewdoksia Papuci-Władyka (JU and PCMA UW), Head of the joint archaeological expedition in Nea Paphos, will take the post of PCMA UW Research Centre in Cyprus Director.