EVALUATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF THE NEA PAPHOS LOCATION IN CYPRUS (IV BC - IV AD) IN THE LIGHT OF PHYSICO-GEOGRAPHICAL MAPPING OF GEOSYSTEMS

In 2014-2019, geoarchaeological research of the ancient city Nea Paphos and the Paphos region (SW Cyprus) was carried out. One of the aims was to determine the environmental factors for the location and functioning of this city in the period from 4th BC to 4th AD. Based on the field survey and thematic maps, physico-geographical mapping of geosystems of various orders was carried out. Next typology and regionalization were carried out on two levels: geocomplexes (“uroczysko”) and landscapes (terrains). The separated geocomplexes was grouped into 162 subtypes and 13 types, and then five landscapes were grouped into two types. As a result of the evaluation of separated landscapes, the landscape 1 - the lowest uplifted marine terrace is the most suitable for ancient Nea Paphos settlement. It is characterized by high heterogeneity, a relatively high presence of valleys (15%), the presence of monadnocks and rock walls (quarries) and the presence of sandy clay soils (pottery). In the light of geographical analyzes, it seems that during the location of the ancient Nea Paphos, environmental factors were not as important as economic and political conditions.