The Cyprus Institute hosted the naming ceremony for the A. G. Leventis Archaeological Materials Science Laboratories on 25 November, marking the inauguration of a unique facility dedicated to scientific research and the advancement of cultural heritage in Cyprus.

 

Using cutting-edge technology, the A. G. Leventis Archaeological Materials Science Laboratories provide substantial support to the work of the Department of Antiquities, international archaeological missions in Cyprus, the University of Cyprus, and lead major projects at the Cyprus Institute itself.

 

During their first seven years of operation, the laboratories have demonstrated their important role in archaeological research in Cyprus, Greece, and increasingly also globally. Recognising this important contribution, the A. G. Leventis Foundation has renewed its funding for another five years and granted its name to the laboratories, further enhancing their strategic importance.

 

The naming ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Professor Kassianidou, Dr. Tassos Leventis, chairman of the A. G. Leventis Foundation, as well as individuals from the academic and cultural areas.

 

Welcoming the distinguished guests, the President of the Cyprus Institute, Professor Stavros Malas, spoke of a particularly important day for the Cyprus Institute. Today, he said, we are not simply celebrating the naming of the laboratories, but it is a day to thank the A. G. Leventis Foundation, which has dedicated its life to supporting many research activities, long before the establishment of academic and research institutes in our country. The A. G. Leventis Foundation, said Professor Malas, has consistently supported the Cyprus Institute, helping to establish the infrastructure and academic foundation for the Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center (STARC).

 

In her greeting, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Professor Kassianidou, pointed out that today's event is the culmination of the long-standing support offered by the A. G. Leventis Foundation to the Cyprus Institute, initially with the establishment of the A. G. Leventis Chair in Archaeological Sciences, held by Professor Thilo Rehren, and now with the A. G. Leventis Archaeological Materials Science Laboratories. Advancing research requires strong human resources and modern infrastructure—both of which the A. G. Leventis Foundation provides to the Cyprus Institute, Professor Kassianidou noted.

 

The chairman of the A. G. Leventis Foundation, Dr. Tassos Leventis, noted that naming the laboratories acknowledges the significant work they have already accomplished in enhancing our understanding of Cyprus’s material past. He emphasized that a profound knowledge of the past is essential for safeguarding the future. Dr. Leventis described today’s ceremony as a milestone that celebrates the long-standing and productive partnership between the A. G. Leventis Foundation and the Cyprus Institute— a partnership grounded in a shared commitment to scientific excellence and the preservation of cultural heritage.

 

Professor Thilo Rehren, A. G. Leventis Professor for Archaeological Sciences, emphasized how the A. G. Leventis Archaeological Materials Science Laboratories significantly improve the research capabilities of Cyprus, reducing the need to export archaeological material abroad for analysis, and demonstrating the growing visibility of Cyprus as a research- and knowledge-driven society. Without the support from the A. G. Leventis Foundation it would be impossible to attract so many EU-funded grants, international visitors and colleagues to the Cyprus Institute.

 

The programme featured the unveiling of the A. G. Leventis Archaeological Materials Science Laboratories signage followed by a guided tour of the laboratories.