Studia Palmyreńskie (10.1997)

SOUNDING IN THE COURT OF THE SARAY (MUSEUM OF ETHNOGRAPHY) IN PALMYRA (1986)

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walls of ashlars measuring 50 x 55 x 85 cm with dry joints. The foundation forms an offset of
10 cm on one side and 20 cm on the other. The foundation III had an additional 5-10 cm
offset ca 60 cm deeper on the South side, connected with the original level of utilization,
marked by fragments of some slabs (55 cm wide and 6-8 cm thick) at a level about 3.10 m
below the present surface. Below, there was an underlay of calcareous rubble fixed with
clay (45 cm of thickness) and a 10-20 cm stratum of sterile gravel resting over the above-
mentioned layer with flintstones. Together with the slabs there was found a fragment of a
sewage pipe (buff clay, walls 2 cm thick, bore of 20 cm, collar 2.5 cm long, receding by 3
cm). This layer was covered with some 10 cm of greenish clay mixed with débris. Above it
there was a stratum of white calcareous breakstone, nearly sterile, but including over 100
mosaic tesserae. They were square, rectangular, rhomboid, or, rarely, triangular, mostly 1
cm or 0.5 cm wide, predominantly fair brown in colour (some also white or black). Some of
them had still a layer of lime-and-gravel mortar attached to the lower surface. A very
damaged limestone threshold was also found to the north of wall III. Its level corresponded
to that of the slabs and probably marked the same level of utilisation.

In the central part of the trench, between walls III and IV, the original construction level
was probably connected with a white layer 80 cm below the offsets of walls III and IV. It
was overlying a 60 cm stratum of yellow clay and gravel, with a few fragments of pottery,
bones, and ash, reposing immediately on the virgin soil. The second stage of utilization was
associated with still another white layer, less than 30 cm thick, reaching the top level of
foundations III and IV. It was covered by a 30 cm layer of refuse, on which stone slabs were
placed. Two of the slabs, 10 cm thick, still in situ, were visible in the western section. They
probably adjoined the first layer of blocks resting on the foundation. These blocks were later
entirely removed. At the same level a fragment of a stone threshold, perpendicular to the
walls, was preserved. An opening in wall IV was probably blocked at this stage. Originally,
it was only slightly less deep than the foundations. To the north-east, the area was consid-
erably damaged by later trenches probably connected with the lime kiln located nearby
(PI. V.2). Right in the NE corner, fragmentary clay levels were preserved. The highest one
corresponded to the level of the upper floor in the trench A, 2.30 m below the present
surface. This level covered the blockage in wall IV.

A completely different picture has been obtained in area A. Walls I and II are there the
only remains of the construction phase and of the first occupation. Later layers, so well
visible in areas B and C, were completely destroyed when the place was used as an ash
dump. A wall perpendicular to walls I and II was added in the eastern part of the trench,
founded probably as deep as the two earlier walls. The depth of 1.50 m below the offset of
the foundations was reached without getting to the base. The fabric of this wall of small
stones resembled the blockage in wall IV, and might be dated about the same time.

CONCLUSIONS

The goal of the sounding, both in 1985 and 1986, was to establish a stratigraphical sequence
in the poorly investigated area of the ancient city of Palmyra. The most important result of
the two seasons of excavations was the unearthing of the bed of a wadi and of the Isf-IInd
century structures in two distinct phases built directly in it. This find points out to a radical
change of the course of the temporary river which today passes to the south of the Bel
temple. The flint tools discovered in the lowermost layers come probably from a paleolithic
site eroded by the waters of the wadi flowing from the west through the Valley of Tombs.