AKROTIRI, CYPRUS—Members of the Cyprus Antiquities Department and injured servicemen and women, working through Britain’s Operation Nightingale, have been excavating a seventh-century basilica. The large building was decorated with mosaics, marble, gold leaf, and bronze statues. “This literally helps us understand and re-write the history of the seven century in Cyprus. We estimate that after its construction, it had a very short life-span of approximately 30 years before it was abandoned and destroyed. This was a very important place and house the relics of some very important people,” explained Eleni Procopiou of the Cyprus Antiquities Department.