Volume one consists of a detailed review of the artifacts and finds from the site ranging from pottery to bones.  Volume two focuses on the political, cultural, ethnic and social relations in Cyprus during this period and  contains a series of contributions which partly based upon the excavations addresses a range of little covered issues from the late Hellenistic-roman period including the importance of pottery as a means of providing insights into trade mechanisms and regional relationships.

When first excavated in the 1990s Panayia Ematousa was a unique endeavour due to the rural nature of the site, and the late Hellenistic-Roman date of its main period of occupation.  Since its excavation a number of publications have been released on rural sites in Cyprus but these have dealt with the late Roman period, so this monograph remains an important first step towards shedding light on a neglected phase Cyprus’s archaeological and historical record.  The monographs addressed issues ranging from the economic and social organization of ancient society to questions on food production, to the use of tombs and approaches to sculpture in Roman Cyprus.

These two volumes represent an important contribution on two fronts, as a scholarly contribution shedding light on a neglected aspect of Cypriot history and of a the means of training and fostering the skills of a new generation of Danish classical archaeologists.  This well presented and designed monograph offers a substantial and useful compendium of information and resources to help guide and inform research and future work on Cyprus’s archaeological and historical record.

Many archaeological excavations are undertaken as emergency activities in response to development and are often therefore of short duration before sites are erased forever from the archaeological record.  Therefore long term excavations such as those at Panayia Ematousa play a crucial role in helping us to more comprehensively understand the forces and societies which have shaped our world today. Long term excavations such as Panayia Ematousa highlight the importance and need for comprehensive excavations beyond short emergency work and help to convince of the necessity to sustainably fund such excavations over long periods of time.