ABSTRACT
Chalcolithic Cyprus witnessed the emergence of marked differences in the size and elaboration of houses and the beginning of long-distance trade and metallurgy that connected the island with the broader Eastern Mediterranean. However, we lack evidence for persistent social inequalities in Chalcolithic communities. In this paper, I will discuss recent evidence from the Chalcolithic site of Chlorakas-Palloures and place these results in the context of the broader Chalcolithic of Cyprus, in particular the sites investigated by the Lemba Archaeological Project, and discuss some possible models for understanding the social makeup of these societies.
