Introduction

This introduction aims at contextualising the state of research in Cypriot and Eastern Mediterranean archaeology by addressing the current problems and ‘big questions’ in this field. These will be discussed in four thematic blocks: The first deals with the initial stages of Cypriot prehistory, and how holistic and multi-scalar approaches may contribute to understanding social complexity. In the second part, the development and consolidation of social and economic networks in the Bronze Age is substantiated to form a coherent interpretation of ancient Cypriot society and its strategic connections with surrounding regions. The third section integrates different artefact studies presented in the volume to discuss aspects of Cypriot adaptability and agency. Finally, we illustrate how inequalities and resistance to inequalities can be detected, in order to trace trajectories of social dynamics and structures in Cypriot prehistory and protohistory.