DOI Artikel:
Gawlikowski, Michał: Palmyra
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42008#0048
original steps leading to the 2nd century basilica. A slapdash portico including
two truncated columns to the right and two pedestals to the left, ran along the
facade.
The time of the founding of the church is unknown. The taking over of a
ruin and negligent building suggest a relatively recent date, but such estimate
may be misleading. The impoverished Palmyra in the 5th or 6th century was
certainly a community not comparable in any way to Northern Syria of that age.
At any rate, the church was abandoned and its essential elements removed some
time before the final collapse which occurred in the 8th or 9th century
according to the pottery finds, pretty scarce as they are in the fill. More
information may be reasonably expected from sounding the original level,
whenever it differs from the late one.
The mission was also engaged, in collaboration with the Palmyra Museum, in
the Valley of Tombs. The funerary towers there provide perhaps the most notable
featureofthesite. Their survival is often taken for granted, but in fact they
are seriously threatened by the modem development. This is why we prepare for
some time now a comprehensive survey of the towers. During the two seasons under
report we have cleaned the tower of Kitot (no 44, built 40 A.D.) on four levels,
andrecordedallsix. In the process, some very interesting finds were secured,
including many textile fragments of various fabrics and patterns, leather shoes,
latticework, and occasionally wooden objects and pottery. Worth of special
mention are tiny fragments of papyrus, first ever found inPalmyra Ail this is
being treated and studied.
Finally, also in collaboration with the Palmyra Museum which is restoring
parts of the Arab Castle in Paimyra, we have conducted limited soundings in the
castle. Two subsequent stages of construction have been determined, and the
limited ceramic evidence indicates the 13th century as the period of the
founding. It is planned to proceed next year with a comprehensive architectural
recording of the castle.
44
two truncated columns to the right and two pedestals to the left, ran along the
facade.
The time of the founding of the church is unknown. The taking over of a
ruin and negligent building suggest a relatively recent date, but such estimate
may be misleading. The impoverished Palmyra in the 5th or 6th century was
certainly a community not comparable in any way to Northern Syria of that age.
At any rate, the church was abandoned and its essential elements removed some
time before the final collapse which occurred in the 8th or 9th century
according to the pottery finds, pretty scarce as they are in the fill. More
information may be reasonably expected from sounding the original level,
whenever it differs from the late one.
The mission was also engaged, in collaboration with the Palmyra Museum, in
the Valley of Tombs. The funerary towers there provide perhaps the most notable
featureofthesite. Their survival is often taken for granted, but in fact they
are seriously threatened by the modem development. This is why we prepare for
some time now a comprehensive survey of the towers. During the two seasons under
report we have cleaned the tower of Kitot (no 44, built 40 A.D.) on four levels,
andrecordedallsix. In the process, some very interesting finds were secured,
including many textile fragments of various fabrics and patterns, leather shoes,
latticework, and occasionally wooden objects and pottery. Worth of special
mention are tiny fragments of papyrus, first ever found inPalmyra Ail this is
being treated and studied.
Finally, also in collaboration with the Palmyra Museum which is restoring
parts of the Arab Castle in Paimyra, we have conducted limited soundings in the
castle. Two subsequent stages of construction have been determined, and the
limited ceramic evidence indicates the 13th century as the period of the
founding. It is planned to proceed next year with a comprehensive architectural
recording of the castle.
44