Archaeologists have discovered golden diadems and mouth-pieces buried in rubble outside an ancient city in Cyprus, according to the announcement. The objects are stamped with images including sun-crowned bulls and running ibexes.
The team reports that the designs draw on artistic traditions from across the ancient Mediterranean, blending elements of Egyptian, Greek and Near Eastern craftsmanship. According to the announcement, the finds offer a glimpse into the wide-reaching trade networks of the period, described as one of history's first great ages of globalisation.
The gold pieces are said to date back roughly 3,400 years, placing them within a period when goods, styles and imagery moved freely between cultures bordering the Mediterranean. The presence of Egyptian-influenced motifs alongside Greek and Near Eastern elements, as reported, points to Cyprus's role as a meeting point for these exchanges.
No further detail on the exact findspot, the excavating institution or the precise dating method has been given in the announcement. As with many discoveries of this kind, the full significance of the diadems and mouth-pieces is likely to become clearer as researchers continue to study the objects and publish their findings.
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