Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (15.2003(2004))

CHHIM

LEBANON

rested directly on a layer of gray-brown
earth (0.60-0.90 m deep), covering one of
light-brown color, the latter connected
with the threshold of the entrance in the
south wall of the room, near the entrance

to oil press E.II. The floor remains to be
located in this room.
For the present, it seems that the room
was later than its north wall and perhaps
also later than the oil-press here.

TRIAL PITS IN BASILICA B

Conservation work in the basilica created
conditions for three limited trial pits to be
dug. The first trench was situated in the
northern aisle, on the spot of the antelope
mosaic, which was lifted for conservation.
The second was opened in the second inter-
columnation of the north colonnade.
Finally, the third test pit was located on the
spot of a Greek inscription in the southern
aisle. In all three cases, the stratigraphic

sequence was the same: below the bedding
of the church mosaic floors there was a lime-
mortar floor, the same that was discovered
in a number of places elsewhere in the
basilica and in the court in front of the
Roman temple. It should be dated
presumably to the 2nd century AD. Thus,
it is now clear that the Roman-period
temenos extended at least to the northern
part of the present basilica.

CONSERVATION WORK

The purpose of conservation work in the
basilica was foremost to clean and repair the
church mosaics, last protected in 1999- The
entire floor of the basilica was cleared of the
protective layer of sand in order to inspect
the mosaic pavement. Cracks were observed
and damage caused by plants becoming
rooted in it. Gypsum protecting bands were
introduced in the voids. Generally, the state
of the pavement was found to be satisfactory
with no need for further conservation in the

next 3-4 years. The southern aisle
pavement, which was fully treated in 1998,
is best preserved. The mosaic floor was
again backfilled after the season, the sand
being laid on a layer of synthetic plastic
bags ensuring, however, proper ventilation
of the mosaics.
The fragments of mosaic floor from the
church presbytery, lifted in 1997, were
treated by the conservators in the course of
the season.

GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTION AT JIYEH

In preparation for excavations at the archae-
ological site of Jiyeh,5) magnetic prospection
was carried out by T. Herbich and R. Zukow-
ski from the Institute of Archaeology and
Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The survey covered the ancient necropolis,
the residential district dating from Late
Antiquity and the Byzantine basilica. The
results will be published following archae-
ological verification in the coming season.

5) Cf. PAM IX, Reports 1997 (1998), 148-152.

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