Alessandro Lentini

Archaeometry and Aphrodite Alessandro Lentini

The publication regards the proceedings of the seminar organized for the 90th years of CNR the 13th June 2013. The Italian Archaeological Mission of ITABC-CNR which in 2001 started investigating with Archaeometry methodologies the material coming from Pyrgos/Mavroraki in Cyprus, presents the results of the last nine years of researches, during which it has been brought to light laboratories of cosmetics, precious textiles, and bronzes production, with all instrumental equipment. The collaboration with "Antiquitates" Centre for Experimental Archaeology of Blera (VT) helped to clarify suggestions born during the excavations regarding the activities performed in the workshops of the industrial area. Archaeometry analyses have provided useful elements for reconstruction, through experimentation, technologies performed at Pyrgos 4000 BP. As many Mediterranean civilizations, Cyprus has been deeply involved in the social development based on a gradual transition from the simple food production to a more organized domestication of plants and animals. In later periods coinage was one of the most powerful resources of propaganda for images of the ancient Roman world, including Cyprus, and its ancient worship of Aphrodite-Wanassa at Palaeo Paphos. Since the Bronze age, Cyprus is deeply linked with production of perfumes and cosmetics whose ingredients are the same used today to improve the beauty, and perhaps it is not a case that the island is at the third place in the world for the consumption of cosmetics pro capite.