Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (14.2002(2003))

PALMYRA

SYRIA

PALMYRA
SEASON 2002

Michal Gawlikowski

The excavation season lasted from 29 April to 14 June 2002. ^ The mission took up the
work in Basilica III, partly uncovered in the previous year. The main body of the basilica is
noiv cleared entirely, but the pastophoria right and left of the apse are only partly probed and
the work there will be continued. The atrium in front of the church has been cleared of later
structures and its colonnades restored as far as possible. A side chapel opening from the atrium
has been excavated. Other dependencies of the church await their turn.
An unexpected discovery was made in the sector by the Great Colonnade. While
investigating late structures behind the shops along the octostyle portico, a mosaic floor was
found. We have cleared only a small part of it, so as to get a general idea of the subjects and
dating of the floor. After due recording the mosaic was covered and protected until the next
season.

1) The mission was headed by the present writer with Dr. Grzegorz Majcherek as deputy. It further included Ms Marta
Zuchowska, Mr. Marcin Wagner and Mr. Ladislav Staneo, archaeologists, as well as Messrs. Wojciech Terlikowski and
Michal Smola, architects, and restorer Mr. Tomasz Myjak. A student of archaeology from Tubingen, Ms Elisabeth Katzy,
also joined the team. Mrs. Krystyna Gawlikowska participated in a private capacity.
It is our pleasure to acknowledge the standing support of Dr. Abdel Razzaq Moaz, then Director General of Antiquities
and Museums, and of Dr. Michel al-Maqdissi, Director of Excavations at the DGAM in Damascus. In Palmyra, Mr. Khaled
Assaad, Director of Antiquities, and Mr. Ali Taha, who served as the inspector attached to the mission, have been most
helpful as usual. We thank them all wholeheartedly.

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