the north of the building, preserved to a height of 2 m in places,
was surely earlier than the basilica which was later added onto it.
Detailed epigraphic studies of the inscription revealed last
year in the southern aisle have indicated that the mosaic was laid in
AD 498.
TEMPLE C
In 1996, a test trench had been located in the southwestern
comer of the temple temenos; it now continued to be explored. The
northeastern half of the building was uncovered, confirming the
earlier provisional stratigraphy. The Byzantine layer on top had left
no vestiges in the part currently explored. What was well visible
was a layer of fill consisting of small stones mixed with pottery of
the 2nd century AD. Additionally dating the layer was a coin of
Antoninus Pius from ca. AD 140. The layer constituted the fill that
leveled a layer of earlier structures under the Roman temple.
Underneath, there was an extensive floor made of mortar, its
northeastern edge cut off by a foundation trench of the temple. In
the southeastern part, there was a square structure of stone blocks
covered with plaster - presumably traces of a pillar. The pottery
found immediately above these stmctures is dated to the 1st century
BC -1st century AD. Fragments of wall plaster with geometric and
floral painted motifs, corresponding with the earliest described
phase, may testify to the presence on this spot of a decorated
building before the 2nd century Roman temple.
COMPLEX F
On a terrace below the temple, there is a complex of rooms
occasionally preserved to a height of 1.80 m. The walls were of an
average thickness 0.90 m, founded directly on bedrock and
145
was surely earlier than the basilica which was later added onto it.
Detailed epigraphic studies of the inscription revealed last
year in the southern aisle have indicated that the mosaic was laid in
AD 498.
TEMPLE C
In 1996, a test trench had been located in the southwestern
comer of the temple temenos; it now continued to be explored. The
northeastern half of the building was uncovered, confirming the
earlier provisional stratigraphy. The Byzantine layer on top had left
no vestiges in the part currently explored. What was well visible
was a layer of fill consisting of small stones mixed with pottery of
the 2nd century AD. Additionally dating the layer was a coin of
Antoninus Pius from ca. AD 140. The layer constituted the fill that
leveled a layer of earlier structures under the Roman temple.
Underneath, there was an extensive floor made of mortar, its
northeastern edge cut off by a foundation trench of the temple. In
the southeastern part, there was a square structure of stone blocks
covered with plaster - presumably traces of a pillar. The pottery
found immediately above these stmctures is dated to the 1st century
BC -1st century AD. Fragments of wall plaster with geometric and
floral painted motifs, corresponding with the earliest described
phase, may testify to the presence on this spot of a decorated
building before the 2nd century Roman temple.
COMPLEX F
On a terrace below the temple, there is a complex of rooms
occasionally preserved to a height of 1.80 m. The walls were of an
average thickness 0.90 m, founded directly on bedrock and
145