The Swedish Cyprus Expedition: a palace complex from 1200 BC.

Excavations in the Bronze Age town of Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus - supported by the Torsten Söderberg Foundation - have resulted in exceptional finds from the period 1600-1100 BC. The results have attracted considerable international attention. The Swedish expedition has been able to provide evidence of long-distance connections with southern, central and northern Europe including Sweden, the eastern Mediterranean, Anatolia, the Levant and Egypt. A large-scale geophysical survey using georadar and magnetometer, as well as a radio-controlled helicopter drone with camera, led to the discovery of a monumental building, 50 x 40 meters in size, which was given the working name "palace" because of its size and the width of its walls. The new discovery makes Hala Sultan Tekke the largest Bronze Age city not only in Cyprus but also in the entire Eastern Mediterranean. Test excavations in 2014 in the eastern part of the palace verified the geophysical findings: the expedition found stone foundation walls and outstanding finds that include figurines of people/gods and animals. The finds date from 1300-1150 BC. The project aims to carry out advanced archaeological research in connection with the excavation of this palatial complex, thus ensuring the continued existence of the Swedish Cypriot Expedition in the years 2016-2018.