Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (12.2000(2001))

CHHIM

LEBANON

next to it of a cistern inlet, the cistern
being situated under the north wall of
Temple C and used throughout the
existence of this part of the settlement. A
rectangular structure of plastered stone had
been attached to the northern wall of the
triangular space (which is a wall of E.V at
the same time). Its surface bears evidence for
the mounting of some kind of rectangular
object — perhaps a statue base or an
installation connected with the cistern?
These determinations throw some light
on the interpretation of the remains
uncovered below the Roman temple in the
course of the previous seasons. It is now
possible to connect the lime floor
discovered there in 1996 with the floor
from the triangular space that has been
dated to the 1st century AD. The above-
mentioned pool would belong to the same

phase. One should imagine, therefore,
preceding the construction of the temple
in the 2nd century AD, a rectangular space
surrounded by walls that were plastered
and decorated with painted black lines. In
the middle of this space there was a
rectangular pool and the inlet to a cistern.
Added to this are two substructures in the
eastern part of the courtyard, both
identified as "bases" or "pillars". The
dozens of painted plaster fragments
discovered on either side of the northern
wall of the temple suggest that its
construction destroyed some kind of
structure with painted walls that had stood
in the center of the courtyard.
Conclusions drawn from the
exploration of this triangular space are of
significance for the settlement as a whole.
For the first time since the beginning of


Fig. 3. Entrance to house E.VII and staircase leading up to the roof
(Photo K. Kotleivski)

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