Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (17.2005(2007))

TELL ARBID

SYRIA

chambered structure (located at the edge of
two squares, hence the designation of the
locus 47-36/65+63-36/64), measuring c. 3.50
by 2.60 m [Fig. 15]. As it was a separate
architectural complex different from what
came later, the term Building of the
Plastered Platform has been coined for it
(and the entire corresponding level in Area
"SD"). It was most certainly not
habitational. The northwestern part was
taken up by the said platform, which was
repeatedly replastered, and a wide bench
lined the north wall on the inside [Fig. 14].
An entrance in the northwestern corner led



Fig. 16. Courtyard 40-36/65 with domestic
installations, viewed from the south
(Photo A. Reiche)

to a narrow corridor just about 1 m wide,
running north for a length of more than 8 m
and giving onto a wide street. A shallow
drain ran down the center. The street
entrance was roughly in the same spot
where all the entrances to the later
buildings would be found. A few Ninevite
jars were found on the surface and two
larger jars were sunk into the ground. The
courtyard around the building (locus 40-
36/65) was 6.80 m long and c. 5.70 m
wide. The southwestern corner was set off
by an irregular curving wall (locus 67-
36/64) and in it a conical hollow carefully
lined with clay was found [Fig. 16]. A door-
way led off from the courtyard into room
26-35/65, adjoined by the Building of the
Plastered Platform itself. In this phase
both this and the neighboring room 24
were furnished with brick floors and their
overall plan was not different from the
chambers built on top of them in the next
phase. Their street facades on the north and
west, reinforced with cladding of vertical
bricks, will remain unaltered throughout
all phases from the Building of the


Fig. 1 7. Mud brick protecting the outer face of
locus 24
(Photo A. Reiche)

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