Archaeologists recently finished a six-week dig. It was in Peyia, Cyprus. They found strong proof of a big Byzantine harbour. This harbour is from the 6th century AD. This time was during Emperor Justinian's rule. The project involved Cyprus and New York University. They found many old objects. Most importantly, they found over 700 kilograms of broken pottery jars. These jars are called amphorae. They give us new information about the past.
The old port of Peyia was very important. It helped bring marble to build churches. Many broken amphorae show big transport work. These jars are from the 6th century AD. They have 68 markings in red ink. These markings are called *dipinti*. They help scholars learn about old trade and business. Professor Stella Demesticha is leading this work.
The team also looked at a big burial ground. It is called the Peyia necropolis. It is also known as Agios Georgios. An old tomb was found there in 2018. This tomb was used for a long time. It was used from 1st century BC to 5th century AD. This shows people lived there for many years.
Many experts worked on this dig. They came from different universities. Professor Jolanta Mlynarczyk studies tomb pottery. Dr. Rebecca Gerdes looks at cooking pots. They use special methods to study them. They also study old bones. This helps us understand ancient life better.
These finds show the Byzantine Empire was interested in Cyprus. The amphorae show big trade routes. More study will help us understand how they built the harbour. These old pieces will teach us a lot. They will show Cyprus was an important place for trade and religion.