This interdisciplinary project on the Church of Transfiguration, Sotira, Cyprus, is an ongoing collaboration undertaken by the Archaeology Unit of the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus Department of Antiquities.

The core investigation focuses on the Church of the Transfiguration at Sotera, where intensive research, encompassing the building’s structure and surrounding excavations, has unveiled traces of history spanning over 2,000 years. The findings are remarkable, with researchers identifying construction phases corresponding to more than three distinct earlier building structures. This multi-phase history is also visibly reflected in the surviving mural paintings within the church.

A significant challenge of this project lies in the meticulous process of identifying, differentiating, and sequencing each historical phase and the new architectural elements found. New clues are continually being discovered with every subsequent visit to the site. Due to the incredible depth and complexity of the recovered stratigraphy, this project offers an unparalleled opportunity to reconstruct the site’s complete chronological evolution, serving as an exceptional archaeological “time machine.”