This paper considers the role of seafaring as an important aspect of everyday life in the communities of prehistoric Cyprus. The maritime capabilities developed by early seafarers enabled them to explore new lands and seas, tap new marine resources and make use of accessible coastal sites. Over the long term, the core activities of seafaring revolved around the exploitation of marine and coastal resources, the mobility of people and the transport and exchange of goods. On Cyprus, although we lack direct material evidence (e.g. shipwrecks, ship representations) before about 2000 BC, there is no question that beginning at least by the eleventh millennium Cal BC (Late Epipalaeolithic), early seafarers sailed between the nearby mainland and Cyprus, in all likelihood several times per year. In the long stretch of time—some 4000 years—between the Late Aceramic Neolithic and the onset of the Late Chalcolithic (ca. 6800–2700 Cal BC), most archaeologists passively accept the notion that the inhabitants of Cyprus turned their backs to the sea. In contrast, this study entertains the likelihood that Cyprus was never truly isolated from the sea, and considers maritime-related materials and practices during each era from the eleventh to the early second millennium Cal BC. In concluding, I present a broader picture of everything from rural anchorages to those invisible maritime behaviours that may help us better to understand seafaring as an everyday practice on Cyprus.

中文翻译：

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史前塞浦路斯的海洋叙事：航海作为日常实践

本文将航海的作用视为史前塞浦路斯社区日常生活的一个重要方面。早期海员发展的海上能力使他们能够探索新的陆地和海洋，开发新的海洋资源并利用可到达的沿海地点。从长远来看，航海的核心活动围绕着海洋和沿海资源的开发、人员流动以及货物的运输和交换。在塞浦路斯，虽然我们缺乏大约公元前 2000 年之前的直接物证（例如沉船、船舶陈述），但毫无疑问，至少从公元前 11 千年开始（晚新石器时代），早期的海员在附近的大陆和塞浦路斯之间航行，很有可能每年几次。在晚期陶瓷新石器时代和晚期铜石器时代（公元前 6800-2700 年）之间的很长一段时间（大约 4000 年）中，大多数考古学家被动地接受了塞浦路斯居民背对大海的观点. 相比之下，这项研究认为塞浦路斯从未真正与海洋隔绝，并考虑了从公元前十一世纪到公元二千年早期的每个时代与海洋相关的材料和实践。最后，我展示了从农村锚地到那些无形的海上行为的所有事物的更广泛图景，这些行为可能有助于我们更好地理解航海是塞浦路斯的日常实践。大多数考古学家被动地接受了塞浦路斯居民背离大海的观点。相比之下，这项研究认为塞浦路斯从未真正与海洋隔绝，并考虑了从公元前十一世纪到公元二千年早期的每个时代与海洋相关的材料和实践。最后，我展示了从农村锚地到那些无形的海上行为的所有事物的更广泛图景，这些行为可能有助于我们更好地理解航海是塞浦路斯的日常实践。大多数考古学家被动地接受了塞浦路斯居民背离大海的观点。相比之下，这项研究认为塞浦路斯从未真正与海洋隔绝，并考虑了从公元前十一世纪到公元二千年早期的每个时代与海洋相关的材料和实践。最后，我展示了从农村锚地到那些无形的海上行为的所有事物的更广泛图景，这些行为可能有助于我们更好地理解航海是塞浦路斯的日常实践。