Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (4.1992(1993))

Mixed together were Hellenistic and early Roman vessels from
the 1" century B.C. to the early 2"* century A.D,; the coins were
all from the close of Ptolemaic rule. It is more than probable that
the fill was made in the first half of the 2"* century A.D. and was
connected with the first stage in the construction of the Villa of
Theseus.
The ceramic material accompanying the walls of the earlier
structure is of Early Hellenistic date. In the foundation trench
which was sunk down to bedrock a local Classical pottery (White
Painted) predominated together with Early Hellenistic sherds. This
early building had been destroyed during the construction of HA.
The foundation trench of the western wall of HA cut through the
clay floor of the Hellenistic house. Additionally, it was discovered
that room 3 of HA was in all probability its northern limit. The
walls lying further to the north and northwest belonged to some
other and later structure. This last structure consisted also of
remains of a grey mosaic floor uncovered over a length of 7 (!)
meters to the northwest of HA; the wall running along the edge
of the mosaic has been almost completetely plundered.
In a trench opened in room 10 a comer corresponding to
the northwestern comer of room 3 was uncovered/ It is presum-
ably the northeastern comer of HA. To the east there was a wall
preserved almost 0.6 m above a clay floor, built of stone blocks
with traces of painted plaster. The decoration was geometric and
vegetal, and in imitation of stone revettment as well. Black
predominated along with green, yellow and a reddish orange
colours.

** For the plan see PAM III, 1991 (1992), Fig. 4 on p.66.


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