Maa Palaeokastro

Maa Palaeokastro was a fortified Late Bronze Age Mycenaean settlement on a peninsula in southwest Cyprus, near modern Kouklia [1]. The settlement was occupied from the late 13th century BC to the mid-12th century BC, a period of approximately 100-150 years [1]. Archaeological excavations revealed evidence of metal-working, including bronze furnace fragments and metalworking debris [1]. The site also yielded imported pottery and other artifacts indicating extensive trade networks [1]. The fortification walls and strategic peninsula location suggest defensive purposes, possibly related to the turbulent end of the Late Bronze Age [1]. The settlement was abandoned around the mid-12th century BC, likely as part of the widespread Late Bronze Age collapse that affected many Eastern Mediterranean societies [1].