About the Research Centre in Cyprus

About the Research Centre in Cyprus

The Research Centre of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw in Cyprus (Ερευνητικό Κέντρο στην Κύπρο του Πολωνικού Κέντρου Μεσογειακής Αρχαιολογίας Πανεπιστημίου της Βαρσοβίας) was established in October 2021, during a visit by the President of the Republic of Poland to the Polish excavations in Paphos.

Located in Paphos, the Centre supports scientific research efforts in Cyprus, with a particular focus on archaeology. In 2023, the Faculty of History at Jagiellonian University became a partner of the CAŚ UW Research Centre in Cyprus.

  • Mission of the Research Centre
    • Conducting scientific research in Cyprus, with an emphasis on archaeological studies;
    • Collaborating with the Department of Antiquities and other Cypriot authorities;
    • Providing logistical support for Polish scientific expeditions in Cyprus;
    • Offering formal and administrative assistance for Polish research teams working in Cyprus;
    • Strengthening cooperation with other researchers and archaeological expeditions operating in Cyprus;
    • Working with the Embassy of Poland in Cyprus;
    • Promoting Polish archaeological activities on the island;
    • Fostering archaeological education and outreach among Cypriot residents and tourists, especially in the city of Paphos.
Headquarters of the Research Centre

The headquarters of the CAŚ UW Research Centre in Cyprus is located at Georgiou Christoforou Street in Paphos. The facility includes a lecture hall with seating for 30.

Geolocation: 34.77390336814502, 32.41642521398021

The purchase of the headquarters was funded by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science.

The most important activities carried out in 2023:
  • Support for two excavation campaigns carried out within the Archaeological Park of Kato Paphos:
  1. April–May – Spring excavation campaign conducted under the MA-P project, Maloutena and Agora in the Urban Plan of Paphos: Modeling the Urban Landscape of the Hellenistic and Roman Capital of Cyprus, funded by the National Science Center grant OPUS 18: 2019/35/B/HS3/02296. Principal Investigator: Prof. Ewdoksia Papuci-Władyka (PCMA UW/ IA JU).
  2. September–October – Autumn excavation campaign conducted under the same MA-P project, also funded by the National Science Center grant OPUS 18: 2019/35/B/HS3/02296. Principal Investigator: Prof. Ewdoksia Papuci-Władyka (PCMA UW/ IA JU).

September 8–21 – The Research Centre hosted the AuAr2023 International Summer School, a two-week event funded by the University of Warsaw’s Excellence Initiative – Research University (IDUB) program. As part of this Summer School, 12 doctoral students from five countries (including participants from the University of Cambridge, University of Leicester, Universität Hamburg, Freie Universität Berlin, Lebanese University–Beirut, and the University of Cyprus) came to the Research Centre. Lectures were provided by scholars from the University of Warsaw, Jagiellonian University, Warsaw University of Technology, and Universität Hamburg. Project Manager: Dr. Paweł Lech (PCMA UW).

The Research Centre also provided research facilities for scholars working on NCN-funded projects:

  • Dr. Kamila Nocoń (PCMA UW) – Production and Consumption of Cooking Pottery from the Paphos Agora Project in Cyprus during the Middle and Late Roman Periods (3rd–7th century CE) in the Context of Political, Economic, and Social Changes (SONATINA 4 No. 2020/36/C/HS3/00173).
  • Dr. Małgorzata Kajzer (IAIE PAN) – IMPORTant: A Comparative Study on Hellenistic and Early Roman Fine and Semi-Fine Ware Pottery from Nea Paphos and Kourion in Cyprus (SONATINA 4 No. 2020/36/C/HS3/00068).

The Centre’s facilities were also used by the conservation team from the Faculty of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Conservation efforts took place in the Nea Paphos Archaeological Park, within the villa district of Maloutena, in collaboration with PCMA UW. The project was led by Prof. Krzysztof Chmielewski and Dr. Anna Tomkowska (Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw), with participation from students and doctoral candidates.

The Research Centre served as a venue for meetings, seminars, and lectures:

  • Inaugural lecture on the Centre’s activities in Cyprus, led by Prof. Ewdoksia Papuci-Władyka;
  • Meeting with His Excellency Mr. Marek Szczepanowski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Cyprus;
  • Meeting with Ms. Agata Szczepanowska, Undersecretary for Political, Economic, and Media Affairs at the Polish Embassy in Cyprus;
  • Meeting with Paphos Mayor Phedonas Phedonos;
  • Meeting with Dr. Marina Solomidou-Ieronimidou, Director of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus;
  • Meeting with Mr. Eustathios Raptou, Archaeological Officer, Department of Antiquities, Cyprus;
  • Visit by staff from the Archaeological Museum of the Paphos District;
  • Visit from the administrative head of PCMA UW.

Study and Research Visits by scholars from:

  • University of Warsaw
  • Jagiellonian University
  • Warsaw University of Technology
  • Wrocław University of Science and Technology
  • Universität Hamburg