Tenta, Cyprus

Tenta, also known as Kalavasos-Tenta, is an Aceramic Neolithic settlement located on a natural hill in the Vasilikos valley of Cyprus. Occupied as early as 8000 BCE, it is one of the earliest known settlements on the island, predating the famous Khirokitia site by a millennium. The site showcases significant continuity in social, technological, and economic practices over two millennia. Archaeological excavations have revealed curvilinear stone and mudbrick structures, public buildings, and a range of artefacts including stone tools and jewellery made from local picrolite. The settlement also contains fourteen human burials, indicating complex social structures. Tenta provides invaluable insights into Neolithic life on Cyprus, with its well-preserved architectural and botanical remains illustrating the subsistence practices of its ancient inhabitants.