The Archaeological Territory of  Dhavlos

In the Dhavlos area there is a number of  ancient sites. No systematic excavations have been carried however. Many ancient tombs were despoiled in the past, whereas many ancient relics have been destroyed by excavators for agricultural purposes. The area is today inaccessible for further archaeological investigations because since 1974 is under Turkish  military occupation.

The greater archaeological region of Dhavlos which was not excavated, extends from the small river of «Tenios» in the west of the village until the «Galounia» locality to the east, and from the shore in the north till the Kantara forest in the south.

To the east of the village there are relics of at least three ancient settlements, some of which are dated from the Late Bronze Period  based on examination of shells and other findings. There also exist relics of settlements and cemeteries of the Hellenistic and the Roman periods.

Previous researchers have identified the Archaelogical site  in the «Galounia» locality with the ancient Cypriot town of «Afrodision» which is today accepted to have been sited westerly in the Akanthou area. Other researchers have identified the same site with the «Achaeon Akti» (Coast of the Achaians), where according  to tradition, the first Achaians who settled Cyprus have arrived, headed by Tefkros, the founder of Salamis.

To the southeast  of the village there also exist  three other ancient settlements, while to the south in the slope of the Kantara Castle mountaintop there are relics which most probably belong to an ancient sanctuary.

To the west of the village there also exist  another three settlements and cemeteries of the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Periods. Among these, the ruins of a church devoted to Ayia Katerina are included which are surrounded by ruins of a settlement most probably belonging to the Byzantine period.

The monastery of Ayios Nikolaos which is sited midway between the village and the Medieval Castle of Kantara is also included between the archaelogical sites of the village. The homonym chapel of Ayios Nikolaos is preserved till today.

It is not possible to reach to irrevocable conclusions for this large archaeological area since no findings from systematic Archaeological excavations exist. It is evident however that the area was inhabited from the Late Bronze Period until the Byzantine Period. No relics of the Cypro - Geometric or the Archaic period have been identified however.

It is considered certain that the ancient settlements in the Dhavlos region are connected with the  neighboring archaeological sites of Akanthou and Phlamoudi.