Abstract The Chalcolithic period in Cyprus (c. 3800–2500 Before Current Era BCE) has traditionally been characterized as a time of limited maritime engagement, due to sparse evidence for fishing and long-distance exchange. Recent evidence from skeletal material suggests that people did conduct maritime activities, which we suggest comprised coastal seafaring to support regional exchange networks. This study examines the energy efficiency of terrestrial versus maritime transport routes between the Chalcolithic settlements of Chlorakas-Palloures and Makounta-Voules, where petrographic analysis of ceramics has demonstrated substantial inter-regional exchange. Using Geographic Information System (GIS)-based least cost path analysis and energy expenditure calculations derived from military and experimental archaeology research, we reconstruct optimal transport routes and calculate energy requirements for different load-carrying scenarios. Land route energy costs were modelled using the Load Carriage Decision Aid (LCDA) equation, while the energy requirements for maritime routes were calculated based on experimental data from replica Neolithic vessels and environmental factors including wind and currents. Results demonstrate that maritime transport required comparable energy to terrestrial portage (approximately 612–642 kilojoules kJ per kg carried) while covering twice the distance (60 km versus 31 km). Per kilometre travelled, maritime transport was significantly more efficient (~ 10 kJ/km/kg) compared to terrestrial routes (~ 20–50 kJ/km/kg). These findings suggest that coastal seafaring offered an efficient transportation alternative that could explain both the observed material exchanges and the prevalence of skeletal lesions related to water activities in Chalcolithic populations.
Klinkenberg et al. (Sun,) studied this question.