Alaas necropolis is situated in the Carpass peninsula, about 3km south-east of the village of Gastria. The area consists of low rolling hills of chavara rock covered by sparse forest and interspersed by cultivated fields. The site is located in the forest of Valia. Rescue excavations and a surface survey took place between 1973-1974.
The necropolis of Alaas is comprised of rock-cut tombs with a long dromos. A dromos serves as the entryway to the main chamber of a tomb. The tombs were furnished with large quantities of rich grave goods of the Geometric periods, providing some important information for the people buried within these tombs.
One of the richest tombs excavated at Alaas is Tomb 19. The tomb was excavated by the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus in February 1974, supervised by Vassos Karageorghis, after reports about systematic looting of tombs.
After the Turkish Invasion of 1974, the site has been destroyed due to the construction of a gypsum factory and petroleum installations.
Pictures & Info:
Karageorghis, V. (1975) “Alaas. A protogeometric necropolis”, RDAC
Picture and Information:
Karageorghis, V. (1975) Alaas. A protogeometric necropolis in Cyprus, Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, Nicosia
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