Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (11.1999(2000))

HAWARTE

SYRIA

have been approached from the south,
where the hewn rock under the side aisle
of the church probably marks an open
corridor leading to this room and possi-
MAIN
The main room measures 6.45 m along the
dividing wall and 7.20 m along the eastern
wall, which is the original rock wall of the
cave (Fig. 2). Across, the room is 4.80 m
wide. While the north and south walls are
mostly rock, the southwestern corner
adjoining the dividing western wall is also
built of ashlars. In places the uneven rock
surface has been completed with small
stones and brick prior to being plastered
and painted.
Because the room had no axial entrance
as is common, so there were no two lateral
benches either. Instead, the right-hand

bly to yet another. It was not possible to
excavate more of this complex, due to
the presence of a modern house over the
ruins.
ROOM
bench under the eastern wall turns at right
angles along the south wall (Fig. 3), to
stop short leaving a passage 60 cm wide
along the western wall, probably meant to
allow easy access to the benches. These are
2 m wide from the walls to the central
space about 35 cm below. They are mostly
rock on the eastern side, in one place com-
pleted with a rough stone structure, and
built entirely on the southern side. All are
plastered over. The benches were further
reinforced with huge stone slabs provided
with a raised border. Several of these, badly
broken, were found in the rubble.


Fig. 3- The south wall of the main room and the L-shaped bench
(Photo M. Gawlikowski)

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