Aetokremnos, Archaeological site near Limassol, Cyprus
Aetokremnos is a prehistoric rock shelter positioned approximately 40 meters above the Mediterranean Sea on a steep cliff along Cyprus's southern coast. Excavations have revealed four distinct sediment layers containing bones of extinct dwarf hippopotamuses and stone tools that document the daily life of its early inhabitants.
The site contains human evidence dating back roughly 12,000 years, making it one of the earliest known settlements on Cyprus. This early occupation and its artifacts demonstrate that people crossed the seas during the pre-Neolithic period and reached the island.
The flint tools discovered here show connections to cultures around the eastern Mediterranean, pointing to early contact between coastal communities. Visitors can observe how these early inhabitants used their tools and adapted to life on the steep cliffside.
The location is difficult to reach and sits on a steep, windswept cliff with limited space for exploration. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and allow time to properly appreciate the cramped site and its striking position above the sea.
The site demonstrates that people crossed open water before agriculture was even invented, something scholars long thought impossible. This discovery forced archaeologists to completely reconsider what early humans were actually capable of doing.
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