Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (626 page)

Twenty-sixth dynasty of Egypt dating to about 672–525 bc, during which time Sais in the Nile Delta was used as the capital.

 
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Early Horizon farming communities living in the Orinoco Basin of South America in the period from 6000 bc to 800 bc, before moving to the coast of Venezuela and beyond into the Caribbean islands around ad 50. Maize and manioc were cultivated, the former perhaps being the trigger to population expansion and movements. Saladoid Culture levels are recognized by the presence of distinctive ceramic styles, especially white-on-red painted wares. Some incised patterns and adornos are also present, suggesting connections with the Barrancoid styles.

 
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Situated on the east coast of Cyprus near modern Famagusta, this was an extensive major prehistoric and classical trading port. A Mycenaean settlement is known at Enkomi a short distance inland which may have been the precursor of the coastal port; legend records that Salamis was founded by Teucer , son of Telamon the king of the Greek island of Salamis, at the end of the Trojan War. The earliest deposits so far uncovered date to the 11th century
bc
, and the city was certainly thriving from the 6th century
bc
onwards when it was the most powerful city in Cyprus. A vast burial ground to the west of the town dates from this period and includes many richly furnished burial chambers. During the 5th century
bc
the town was the focus of resistance to the Persians, and the ships of Salamis aided Alexander at the siege of Tyre. After a turbulent period between 300 bc and the mid 1st century
bc
, Cato was sent to annex Cyprus to Rome in 58 bc. A Christian community was founded at Salamis by St Paul and St Barnabas in ad 45–6; St Barnabas, a native of the city, was martyred there. Salamis thrived during the Roman period but suffered badly from an earthquake in the reign of Vespasian and during the Jewish revolt of ad 116. Further earthquakes in ad 332 and ad 342 completed its ruin. Constantius II rebuilt it and in his honour the new Christian city was renamed Constantia. Salamis was exposed to the full brunt of the Arab incursions of ad 647; despite several restorations it was finally abandoned in the Middle Ages.
[Rep.: V. Karageorghis , 1969,
Salamis in Cyprus
. London: Thames & Hudson]

 
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Late Neolithic and Copper Age communities in southwestern Romania named after the eponymous tell site in Oltenia and derived from the
V
DASTRA CULTURE
. Few settlements were true tell sites, the majority being short-lived open occupations. Copper objects are rare, but include axes, tools, and ornaments.

 
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Meaning ‘salty’, the name given to Frankish communities who from about ad 350 settled in Holland and Belgium along the coastal plain and whose royal family, the Merovingians, subsequently became masters of Gaul.

 
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