In a breathtaking archaeological revelation, a series of upper-class tombs dating back to the Bronze Age have been unearthed on the storied island of Cyprus. Nestled amidst the Mediterranean’s azure waters, these tombs have yielded an astonishing array of treasures, including pure gold crowns and lapis lazuli—a testament to the opulence and sophistication of ancient Cypriot civilization.

The excavation, led by a team of dedicated archaeologists, has unveiled a wealth of artifacts that offer a tantalizing glimpse into the lives of the elite during this bygone era. Among the most remarkable finds are intricately crafted gold crowns, meticulously adorned with exquisite filigree and precious gemstones. These regal adornments speak to the power and prestige wielded by the individuals interred within these hallowed tombs.

But perhaps even more striking are the lapis lazuli artifacts discovered within the burial chambers. Revered for its celestial hue and rarity, lapis lazuli was highly prized by ancient civilizations for its symbolic significance and mystical properties. Its presence within the tombs underscores the cosmopolitan nature of Bronze Age trade networks and the island’s role as a nexus of commerce and culture.

Engravings on golden crowns excavated from tombs on the island of Cyprus. Photo: Peter Fischer

Hundreds of artifacts, including pure gold headbands, have been unearthed from Bronze Age tombs on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The discovery revealed the wealth of those buried in the graves, based on the island’s trade in copper, an essential metal used to produce copper cigarettes, Live Science reported on July 13.

The antiquities include many imported to Cyprus from many other major civilizations in the region, including Minoan on Crete, Mycenaean in Greece and ancient Egypt. Archaeologist Peter Fischer, professor emeritus at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, said the imported objects help confirm the scale of trade in the Mediterranean during the Late Bronze Age, between 1640 and 1640. 1050 BC. “Gold artifacts, mostly imported from Egypt but with Minoan motifs, prove that the Egyptians received copper in exchange,” Fischer said.