More than a church: The archaeology of late antique basilicas and economic production in Cyprus
In late antiquity, Cyprus was a prosperous, independent island that built its importance through diverse trade relations. Within Cypriot localities, we can trace a strong connection between religious and secular buildings, indicating a profound influence of the church on the local economy. This paper brings together the fields of architecture, ceramics, numismatics, and landscape archaeology, combined with a consideration of the island’s late antique history and vitality, to examine the role of the church and its influence before and after the 7th century Arab invasions.
