4.9 Mandres: Prehistoric

Evidence of prehistoric activity within the Mandres landscape is relatively limited. The chipped stone associated with Kato Koutraphas Mandres (TS07) is mainly associated with Ottoman and Modern threshing sledges, though some of it may be Roman.

Prehistoric settlement activity is most clearly demonstrated by Kato Koutraphas Mandroudhes (TP239). During transect survey, we discovered significant amounts of pottery and ground stone, spread over three low agricultural terraces. The pottery, storage jar fragments and ground stone recorded during gridding probably represent the remains of a small settlement.

TP239 Kato Koutraphas Mandroudhes

Kato Koutraphas Mandroudhes (TP239) is located on a Middle Pleistocene alluvial terrace at the foot of the Troodos Mountains, bounded on the east by a narrow stream valley. This spread of pottery and groundstone tools contrasts strongly with the very low densities of the surrounding area.

Material collected from this site includes Red Polished and White Slip sherds as well as large chunks of pithoi. Groundstone tools included a polished axe, grinders and hammerstones. Most of the datable material is Protohistoric Bronze Age, though there was clearly some activity in the Prehistoric Bronze Age (including the Late Chalcolithic). The main concentration of pottery around the centre point and slightly to the west of centre primarily consists of light utility and table wares with some ground stone tools. The main concentration of ground stone, however, lies to the west of this concentration and could be indicative of a working area of some kind.