Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (9.1997(1998))

THE HOUSE OF AION
Explorations were
resumed east of Room 6, next
to the 'two trenches opened in
the previous season6. The
whole area appears to have
been disturbed in modem
times. Traces of pits
comprising modem refuse
were located on several
occasions. Altogether, three
more rooms (nos. 17, 18, 19)
were completely uncovered
and another two partly
excavated (nos. 20 and 21).
The rooms, all of equal
length (E-W 6.75 m) were
respectively 2.65 m; 2.25 and
Fig. 6. A column with capital. 4.25 m wide (N-S). They
from the fill of Room 19. represent the final phase of the
building. Of the original walls,
only the uppermost course of the foundations or the first course of
blocks in the wall has remained in place. In some parts, for instance
to the south of Room 17, only one or two blocks protmde above
floor level. The entire upper wall to the east of Rooms 17, 18 and
19, as well as much of its foundation were plundered. The floors
are in a much better state of preservation. They were of importance
in tracing the successive alterations made to the building. The
southernmost Room 17 was paved with a simple mosaic made of
large gray tesserae and a few black, white and brown ones. The
floor is of the same type as the mosaic found previously in Rooms 6
and 8. In Room 18, which appears to have been a corridor leading

6 PAM VIII, p. 120ff.

127