Located on the southwest coast of Cyprus, Kourion was one of several independent kingdoms of ancient Cyprus. It was settled as early as the late Bronze Age (14th century BC.), but most of the visible remains at the site belong to the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The University Museum began excavations at Kourion in 1934 under the direction of Bert Hodge Hill, and work continued until 1941 when World War II intervened. Excavations were resumed in 1948 under the direction of George McFadden and continued until his death in 1953. These excavations uncovered extensive cemetery areas of the late Bronze and early Iron Ages, as well as parts of the Greek and Roman city. A major focus of the Museum's work, however, was the excavations of the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates, about 3 kilometers west of the main city center. Here worship of Apollo began as early as the eight century B.C.