Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (7.1995(1996))

Finally, the SE corner of the house was altered substantially in
Byzantine and Islamic times, so that it is difficult to make out its
original layout. Some test trenches have been opened, and more are
needed still, but there is little hope of uncovering more than the
incomplete foundations. Yet another courtyard (loc. 45) was
apparently situated here, but no traces of columns could be found.
The columns of the tetrastyle courtyard loc. 46 have
disappeared, and of those of the courtyard loc. 39 only broken
fragments remain. The walls of this part of the house are preserved
rather low, leaving only such features as were close to the floor. In
particular, we have found and opened two wells, one 5 m and the
other 5.5 m deep, confirming the high water table in antiquity, as
contrasted with the recent situation in this respect. Besides, here and
there we find stone benches, /awzMrx, underground storage jars,
cuttings in the floor of loc. 42 for an oil press, and other minor
features generally related to the latest use. The fbw stucco
fragments, parts of the original decoration, are stray pieces found
dislocated from their falling place.
While the southern wall of the house is for the most part
obviously late, though replacing the original one of which only short
and incomplete sections are to be seen, the long walls of the house
stop abruptly at the present limits of the excavations, either
dismantled or, more probably, never extending any farther. These
walls are, however, in line with the pillars marking the intersection
of the corresponding streets with the Great Colonnade. We have
cleared two such pillars which mark the entrance into Diogenes
Street, only to find that they were left unfinished and that the
adjoining transversal walls were laid only in foundation and never
completed. This confirms our impression that the rest of the
excavated block, between our house and the Colonnade, was never
developed.

143