Cyprus: Khirokitia - excavations of settlement of Neolithic round dwellings (tholoi). Choirokoitia is an archaeological site on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea, dating from the Neolithic age. It has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1998. The site is known as one of the most important prehistoric sites of the eastern Mediterranean. The Neolithic preceramic period is represented by the settlement of Khirokitia and about 20 other similar settlements, spread throughout Cyprus. The site was discovered in 1934 by P. Dikaios who carried out six excavations between 1934 and 1946 in the name of the Department of Antiquities. Further excavations were then held in the early 70's but were interrupted by the Turkish invasion of the island. A French mission resumed excavation of the site in 1977. It was occupied from the 7th until the 4th millennia BC. The settlement of Khirokitia is situated on the slope of a hill in the valley of the Maroni River towards the southern coast of the island about 6 km from the sea. 固opFoto / Fortean