Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

CHHiM

LEBANON

the wall. It seems to be a late element in
the houses at Chhim, becoming a regular
part of the house furnishings in Byzantine
times (cf. finds from room E.VII). Upon
partial dismantling, the bench proved to
be standing over an earlier fireplace made

in a large storage jar, still containing
a large amount of ashes. Bedrock, reached
directly underneath the floor in a trial pit
dug next to the bench, indicated beyond
doubt that no earlier architectural struc-
tures had existed in this spot.

OIL PRESS E.III

The ruins of this oil press, standing on the
slope at the northern edge of the village
ruins and covered with a thick layer of rub-
ble, had been known from the beginning of
work at Chhim. The visible half was of a rec-
tangular layout and contained the standard
oil-pressing facilities, including a great

quern located in the middle, used for
grinding olives during the first phase of the
process. A pressing stone, on which bags
with olive pulp were placed for pressing,
was discovered in the southeastern part.
Along the same wall, there was a basin for
catching the flow of oil and a stone used to


Fig. 4■ Channel in room E.XXVI
(Photo T. Waliszewski)

417