During the years 1927-1931 a Swedish expedition performed several archaeological excavations in Cyprus, led by Einar Gjerstad, Eric Sjöqvist and Alfred Westholm (called Alfredo), and architect John Lindras. These men were all under 30 and they came to play an important role in clarifying the island’s history in the excavations around Cyprus.
During this time on the island, 25 excavations were made in areas including Petra Tou Limnidi, Lapithos, Engomi, Kition, Aya Irini (Akdeniz village), Arsos, Idalion, Marion, Nitovikla castle, Solihull. The majority of the objects discovered were from the Neolithic period, and from the Roman period.
The island was, at this time, under British colonial rule and under an agreement between the countries, all findings were to be shared equally. In the spring of 1931the excavations ended and the 12,000 archaeological objects that were recorded accounted for 65% of what was in Cyprus. All these items were shipped legally to Sweden.
Today we can see some of these beautiful and priceless objects on the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm. Other museums which also have cypriot treasures include New York Metropolitan Museum, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Austria and the British Museum in the UK.
It should be added that both Turkish and Greek Cypriots worked in the Swedish office for a daily wage.
There are letters and personal notes written by archaeologists to their families from that time that describes the working conditions, as well as how people lived on these expeditions, and how well received the Swedes were in each village.
In Güzelyurt there is a museeum with historic, beautiful objects from the island.
Vouni Palace (click here to read more)
Güzelyurt archaeological and natural history museum
