Leicester archaeologists lead Cyprus dig at Akrotiri

A team of British archaeologists are heading to Cyprus to help excavate a 1,500-year-old Roman site threatened by erosion.

The six University of Leicester experts aim to rescue some of the "wave-threatened" heritage at the harbour complex on the Akrotiri peninsula.

The site is located at Dreamer's Bay inside the RAF's Akrotiri base.

The late Roman site has "not been adequately explored or documented", a university spokesman said.

Archaeology professor Simon James said the dig would involve "a series of simple masonry buildings, probably warehouses, which appear to belong to the port which existed… between AD 300 and 600".

"These structures are being rapidly eroded by the sea during winter storms," he said.

Some of the later work will be carried out by of Operation Nightingale, which is run by the Defence Archaeological Group to help wounded, injured and sick UK Service personnel and veterans.

Artefacts recovered from the site, such as pottery or glass, will be taken away for assessment and stored in a museum in Cyprus.

Prof James said none of the artefacts would be taken away from Cyprus.