- Archaeology, Late Antique Archaeology, Late Roman Archaeology, Early Christianity, Craft production (Archaeology), Arts and Crafts, and 167 moreBone and Antler, Roman Marble trade and distribution, The Use of Marble and Other Stones, Marble Provenance, Roman Marble Quarries, Ancient roman marble, Antique Marbles, Roof Tiles, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine Roof Tiles, Liturgical Obiects, Footwear and Leather Garments and Industries, Leatherworking, Leather Technology, Stone artefacts (Archaeology), Metal Finds (Archaeology), Church Archaeology, Archaeology of Ancient Israel, Hellenistic Roman and Byzantine Archaeology in the Land of Israel, Iconography and Iconology, Christian Iconography, Near Eastern Archaeology, Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Palestine (History and Archaeology), Lebanon, Phoenician, Phoenician Culture, Hellenistic and roman Phoenicia archaeology, Antiquity and Late Antiquity, Late Antique Art and Archaeology, Late Antique Urbanism, Household Archaeology, Archaeology of Jordan, Levantine Archaeology, Ancient economies (Archaeology), Syro-Palestinian archaeology, Archaeology of the Middle East (Hellnistic, Roman nad Byzantine times), Roman Syria (Archaeology), Beirut Urban Archaeology, Hellenistic and roman Phoenicia, Material Culture Studies, Byzantine Archaeology, Functional Analysis, Artisan Production, Bone and tooth, Bone Industry, International council of Archaeozoology, Roman building technique, Roman Quarries, Roman Spolia, Spolia, Decapolis Archaeology, Ostrich, Archaeology of death and burial, Roman burial practices, Byzantine Egypt, Roman Necropolis, Leather Tanning Industry, Unhairing liming, Environmental Impact, Industrial wastewater Treatment, Pollution Reduction, Waste Minimization, Zero Liquid Discharge, Stoneworking, Extraction Techniques, Quarries Organization and Management, Marbles, Ornamental Stones, Eastern Desert of Egypt, Nubian Desert, Egypt, Sudan, Archaeologicasl Survey, Pre Islamic Remains, Late Antiquity, Byzantine Studies, Roman Sarcophagi, Terracotta Sarcophagus, Ethiopian archaeology, ancient Red sea ports, South Arabian Archaeology, Bone Technology (Archaeology), Roman Small Finds, Bones Ivory Artefacts, Antler, bone, horn & ivory artefacts, Liturgical Furnishing, Ancien Dwelling, Antiquite Tardive, Pratiques funéraires, Funerary Monuments, Syrie Du Sud, Carthage, Punic Pottery, Mediterranean archaeology, Phoenician Punic Archaeology, Punic world and Punic Archaeology, Phoenician and Punic Studies, archaeology of Sardinia in phoenician age, Death and Burial (Archaeology), Archeologia Fenicio-Punica E Nuragica in Sardegna, Phoenician Punic Archaeology, Tofet, Phoenician Punic Archaeology, Phoenician Punic Pottery, Archeologia Fenicio-Punica, Rivista di Studi Fenici, Doors, Thresholds, and Closure Systems in Roman Public and Domestic Architecture, Call for Papers, Acculturation and 'Romanisation', Symeon the Stylite, Late Roman Trade, Archaeology of Pipes and Smoking, Blemmyes, Pilgrimage, Roman urban crafts, Roman water management, Roman fishing and fish processing, Roman engineering, Roman Economy, Archaeology of salt, Indo-Roman Trade, Urban Survey, Roman Archaeology, Terracotta Figurines, Greek coroplastic art, Coroplastic Studies, Phoenician sanctuary, Phoenicians, Jiyeh, Roman rural settlements, Late Roman and Early Byzantine Syria-Palestine, Porphyreon, Chhim, Phoeni, Phoenician Punic Sanctuary, Late antique small finds, Mozia, Domestic Architecture (Roman), Wooden Architecture, Household Archaeology in Ancient Israel and Beyond, Bone and Ivory Carvings from Alexandria ELZBIETA RODZIEWICZ, Ivory and Bone Working, Bone Tools, Ivory and bone technology, Roman Bone Work, Roman Bone Hairpins, Roman Bone and Ivory Dolls, Astragalus, Purple dye production, Ancient Fishing, Archaeological site formation processes and deposition, Apamea of Syria, Murex, Site Abandonment (Archaeology), Archaeological Site Formation Processes, Ancient DNA (Archaeology), Roof Tiles From Ancient Temples and Official Granaries, Ancient Greek roof tiles, Decline and Fall of the Western Empire, Archaeology of garbage, Garbage Archaeology, Archaeology of Refuse, Late Antique Sculpture, Archaeology of churches, Nubian studies, Egypt and Nubia, Meroitic, Meroe, Meroitic Studies, Nubia, Nubian Architecture, Nubian Archaeology, Sudanese Archaeology, Ancient Nubian Religion, Ancient Nubia, and Nubian-Egyptian Relationsedit
Quantitative and qualitative analyses of marble finds at ancient sites are rare, one of the reasons being the lack of standard measures enabling comparison of different assemblages. The paper discusses the applicability and limitations of... more
Quantitative and qualitative analyses of marble finds at ancient sites are rare, one of the reasons being the lack of standard measures enabling comparison of different assemblages. The paper discusses the applicability and limitations of various methods of quantitative and qualitative analyses, which were tested on datasets of marble objects and excavation results from three medium-sized early Byzantine settlements: Hawara, Porphyreon, and Philoxenite. The tests involved the comparison of volume measurement results obtained for different functional and material-based classes of objects. The analyses confirmed a significant variability among the assemblages, which seems to have been related to the diverse geographic location and socio-religious significance of the settlements. Besides proving the applicability of the methods used, the study has indicated their potential for use in reconstructing consumption patterns in various types of settlements and investigating their intra-and supra-regional diversity.
Research Interests: Roman Marble trade and distribution, Computer Applications & Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA), Late Roman and Early Byzantine Syria-Palestine, Marbles, The Use of Marble and Other Stones, and 4 moreEarly Byzantine Archaeology, Marble, Early Byzantine material culture, and Ancient Roman Marbles
Archaeological excavations in the Levant have provided a significant number of marble finds dated to the early Byzantine period (4th-mid-7th century CE). Information on these objects is, however, scattered over numerous publications,... more
Archaeological excavations in the Levant have provided a significant number of marble finds dated to the early Byzantine period (4th-mid-7th century CE). Information on these objects is, however, scattered over numerous publications, hindering synthetic studies of marble imports that reached this part of the Mediterranean world. A way to address this problem was to create a database facilitating access to the dataset of marble finds from the southern Levant. This paper presents the Marmora Bizantina database, describes its content and interface, and discusses the geographic and chronological scope of the dataset. Some uses of the database are discussed, remarking on the limitations that need to be taken into account. The paper also provides information on the analytical tools available on the database website.
Research Interests: Levantine Archaeology, Roman Marble trade and distribution, Late Roman and Early Byzantine Syria-Palestine, Marbles, Levant, and 8 moreArchaeological Database, Archaeology of the Southern Levant, The Use of Marble and Other Stones, Archaeology of the Levant, Early Byzantine Archaeology, Early Byzantine material culture, Early byzantine architecture, and Ancient Roman Marbles
This paper discusses the inscription from a censer retrived from al Giyya/Jiyeh (Lbanon), now in the British Museu. The inscription is apparently the first attestation of the presumed ancient name of Jiyeh found on site, here also... more
This paper discusses the inscription from a censer retrived from al Giyya/Jiyeh (Lbanon), now in the British Museu. The inscription is apparently the first attestation of the presumed ancient name of Jiyeh found on site, here also accompanied with a designation of the settlement's status as KOME or "village". A new reading of the name of the patron saint of the church who once owned the censer is also offered: Isaiah instead of Elijah.
Research Interests:
In the western hinterland of Alexandria, numerous examples of small church complexes associated with residential spaces have been unearthed which have a unique architectural form for the Byzantine period. During the excavations at... more
In the western hinterland of Alexandria, numerous examples of small church complexes associated with residential spaces have been unearthed which have a unique architectural form for the Byzantine period. During the excavations at ‘Marea’/Philoxenite, another example of this kind was discovered. It has been analysed for architectural modifications, decorations and related finds in the form of pottery vessels, marble objects, and ostraca. These testimonies indicate that the building was erected no earlier than the 6th century AD and was originally a private house. Later, one of its wings was transformed into a single-nave church with a baptistry. The documents on potsherds (ostraca) discovered in it indicate that in the last phase of use, this complex was managed by monks. These discoveries are an example of a rare Christianization of private space in late antiquity and provide new arguments in the discussion of the function of similar buildings in northwestern Egypt.
Research Interests:
Communal tombs were one of the most emblematic elements of the material culture in the ancient Palestine. Quantitative analysis enabled us to reconstruct the dynamic changes of burial customs that occurred in Judea, Samaria and the... more
Communal tombs were one of the most emblematic elements of the material culture in the ancient Palestine. Quantitative analysis enabled us to reconstruct the dynamic changes of burial customs that occurred in Judea, Samaria and the Coastal Plain from the 4th until the 10th century CE. The results of the survey revealed that from the 5th century CE onwards, the number of new communal tomb foundations gradually decreased, and the most recent date to the early 7th century CE. Though some tombs were still in use in the 8th century CE, they disappeared completely in the following centuries.
Les tombes communes étaient l’un des éléments les plus distinctifs de la culture matérielle en Palestine avant la conquête arabe. Leur analyse quantitative a permis de reconstituer la dynamique de leur développement entre le IVe et le Xe siècle ap. J.-C. chez les populations de Judée, de Samarie et de la Plaine Côtière. Les résultats de cette étude indiquent qu’à partir du Ve siècle ap. J.-C., le nombre de nouvelles fondations de tombes communes diminue progressivement, les plus récentes datant du début du VIIe siècle ap. J.-C. Bien que certaines d’entre elles soient encore utilisées au VIIIe siècle ap. J.-C., elles disparaissent complètement dans les siècles suivants.
Les tombes communes étaient l’un des éléments les plus distinctifs de la culture matérielle en Palestine avant la conquête arabe. Leur analyse quantitative a permis de reconstituer la dynamique de leur développement entre le IVe et le Xe siècle ap. J.-C. chez les populations de Judée, de Samarie et de la Plaine Côtière. Les résultats de cette étude indiquent qu’à partir du Ve siècle ap. J.-C., le nombre de nouvelles fondations de tombes communes diminue progressivement, les plus récentes datant du début du VIIe siècle ap. J.-C. Bien que certaines d’entre elles soient encore utilisées au VIIIe siècle ap. J.-C., elles disparaissent complètement dans les siècles suivants.
Research Interests: Near Eastern Archaeology, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Archaeology of Ancient Israel, Late Antique Archaeology, Israel/Palestine, and 15 moreByzantine Studies, Syro-Palestinian archaeology, Byzantine Archaeology, Early Islam, Death and Burial (Archaeology), Ancient Near East, Late Antique Art and Archaeology, Early Islamic Archaeology, Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East, Ancient Near East (Archaeology), Mortuary archaeology, History and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Mortuary Practices, Archaeology of death and burial, and Burial Customs
The history of settlements in the Mareotis region or the immediate hinterland of Alexandria in the first century following the Arab conquest of Egypt has not been sufficiently studied. Earlier findings stated that the region had suffered... more
The history of settlements in the Mareotis region or the immediate hinterland of Alexandria in the first century following the Arab conquest of Egypt has not been sufficiently studied. Earlier findings stated that the region had suffered a settlement crisis prior to the second half of the 7th century AD, with an unstable hydrological situation as the contributing factor. Those findings contradicted the results of the archaeological excavations at Philoxenite, a town located in the western part of the Mareotis region. The Byzantine buildings and public spaces studied at that site had been in use until the first half of the 8th century. Upon analysis, the associated sequences of layers and structures imply that their uses were subject to modification. Putting these findings into the context of a regional perspective leads to the conclusion that the settlement history of Alexandria's western hinterland was more complex than previously thought. Not only does this concern the difficulties in accessing water, but also the decrease in Christian pilgrimage traffic as important factors responsible for the changes.
Research Interests: Egyptology, Pottery (Archaeology), Pilgrimage, Egyptian Archaeology, Medieval Pottery, and 10 moreHousehold Archaeology, Early Islamic Archaeology, Early and Medieval Islamic Art and Architecture, Settlement archaeology, Early Islamic History, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Ancient Coins, Ancient Egypt, Archaeology of pilgrimage, and Early Byzantine Archaeology
This review paper of current knowledge of burial customs in Syro-Palestine in the early Byzantine period (4th-7th centuries CE) identifies elements that were a continuation of burial practices from the Roman period (1st-3rd centuries CE)... more
This review paper of current knowledge of burial customs in Syro-Palestine in the early Byzantine period (4th-7th centuries CE) identifies elements that were a continuation of burial practices from the Roman period (1st-3rd centuries CE) while noting new customs. It considers the material in terms of location of the burial grounds, forms of graves, variety of grave goods and body positioning data. A quantitative approach to the data demonstrates a gradual departure from chamber tombs and sarcophagi in the early Byzantine period. An emerging trend in this period are burials being made in monasteries and, to a lesser extent, in churches; this can be related to the spread of Christianity. Discussing the results of available radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis, the paper calls for more widespread use of these methods to further knowledge of burial customs in Syro-Palestine in the final phases of antiquity.
Research Interests: Near Eastern Archaeology, Archaeology of Ancient Israel, Levantine Archaeology, Syro-Palestinian archaeology, Death and Burial (Archaeology), and 10 moreAncient Near East, Burial Practices (Archaeology), Hellenistic Roman and Byzantine Archaeology in the Land of Israel, Ancient Near East (Archaeology), Archaeology of death and burial, Roman Sarcophagi, Burial Customs, Archaeology of Jordan, Chamber Graves, and Archaeology of the Levant
Being one of the biggest and best preserved archaeological sites in the western hinterland of Alexandria, 'Marea'/Philoxenite is, therefore, one of the most important points of reference for studies of the Mareotis region. Despite the... more
Being one of the biggest and best preserved archaeological sites in the western hinterland of Alexandria, 'Marea'/Philoxenite is, therefore, one of the most important points of reference for studies of the Mareotis region. Despite the fact that the site has been investigated for many years, by various excavation teams, the nature and chronology of the different phases of settlement remain unclear. Since 2018, systematic stratigraphic excavations have been carried out at the site with the aim of investigating insufficiently studied parts of the settlement. In 2020 and 2021, this goal was achieved by opening and surveying 11 trenches in the southwestern part of the site. This led to the identification of hitherto unknown structures: two churches, two tombs, an irrigation system and numerous rubbish dumps associated with the Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic phases. The study also determined the extent and functional changes of various parts of this settlement, in different historical periods.
Research Interests: Egyptology, Maritime Archaeology, Pottery (Archaeology), Late Antique Archaeology, Late Antiquity, and 15 moreEgypt, Byzantine Architecture, Byzantine Archaeology, Late Antique Art and Archaeology, Roman Marble trade and distribution, Ancient Glass, Roman Period, Archaeology of churches, Terracotta Figurines, Early Christian Archaeology, Marbles, Chamber Graves, The Use of Marble and Other Stones, Ancient Ports and Harbours, and Roman Archaeology
New research at the site of Philoxenite in northern Egypt has identified six large building complexes, each based on a modular design. Each building is composed of replicated segments and dates to the 6th c. CE. This approach to design,... more
New research at the site of Philoxenite in northern Egypt has identified six large building complexes, each based on a modular design. Each building is composed of replicated segments and dates to the 6th c. CE. This approach to design, used at Philoxenite, is not seen elsewhere on such a scale at this date. Nevertheless, modular design was deeply rooted in the construction traditions of the Roman and Early Byzantine periods, when it was used primarily for shops, warehouses, and cisterns. In Philoxenite, it was used to erect a town district that catered to the needs of pilgrims heading from Alexandria to Abū Mīnā, the largest Christian sanctuary at the time.
Research Interests: Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Pilgrimage, Egyptian Archaeology, Byzantine Studies, and 8 moreByzantine Architecture, Byzantine Archaeology, Ancient Egyptian Architecture, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Archaeology of pilgrimage, Christian pilgrimage shrines, Early Byzantine Archaeology, and Pilgrimage Architecture
Les résultats définitifs des fouilles menées sur le site du sanctuiaire de Saint-Syméon-Stylitr-le=Jeune au Mont Admirable par le père Jean Mécérian, dans les années trente du XXe siècle, ne furent jamais publiés. Nous ne disposons que de... more
Les résultats définitifs des fouilles menées sur le site du sanctuiaire de Saint-Syméon-Stylitr-le=Jeune au Mont Admirable par le père Jean Mécérian, dans les années trente du XXe siècle, ne furent jamais publiés. Nous ne disposons que de quelques rapports préliminaires de cette mission. Etant donné la disparition d'une partie de la documentation de fouilles, dont les journaux, des photos d'archives de la campagne représentent souvent le seul témoignage sur les structures du sanctuaire, aujourd'hui inexistantes, qui ne figurent dans aucun rapport préliminaire. Ces photos ainsi que les résultats de recherches ultérieures constituent une base documentaire, qui permet d'entreprendre la reconstitution de l'évolution et de la tranformation du sanctuaire. Cette documentation révèle des changements dans la disposition des pièces, jusqu'à présent méconnus, ayant eu un impact important sur la vie de la communauté monastique et des pèlerins. On peut constater sur les photos de père Jean Mécérian que ces changements sont le résultat d'une volonté de réorganiser l'espace existant du sanctuaire en fonction de l'évolution des besoins. Le présent article a pour objectif de faire le point sur l'état actuel des connaissances relatives à l'architecture du sanctuaire de Saint-Symeon-Stylite-le-Jeune au Mont Admirable, ainsi que de les compléter à l'aide des documents photographiques d'archives, dont les publications parues jusqu'à présent n'ont pas tenu compte.
Research Interests: Pilgrimage, Symeon the Stylite, Crusader Archaeology, Syro-Palestinian archaeology, Byzantine Architecture, and 17 moreByzantine Archaeology, Byzantine monasticism, Church Archaeology, Archaeology of Medieval Monasteries, Crusades and the Latin East, Syria (Archaeology), Archaeology of pilgrimage, Christian pilgrimage shrines, Medieval Wall Paintings, Wall Paintings, Sanctuaries, Antiocheia, Middle Byzantine Architecture, Monasteries, Archaeology of Turkey, Patriarchate of Antioch, and Middle Byzantium
The paper focuses on the archaeological evidence for settlement, cultural, and economic change in the Sidon’s (Ṣaydā) northern hinterland in the period of transition from early Byzantine to early Islamic times (7th–8th century c.e.). The... more
The paper focuses on the archaeological evidence for settlement, cultural, and economic change in the Sidon’s (Ṣaydā) northern hinterland in the period of transition from early Byzantine to early Islamic times (7th–8th century c.e.). The changes were reconstructed based on the outcome of archaeological research at the sites of Porphyreon (modern Jiyeh) and Chhîm in the Sidon’s/Ṣaydā economic hinterland. The evidence confirms a continuity, although in reduced form, of occupation after the Arab conquest and a complete abandonment in the second half of the 7th or the beginning of the 8th century. The situation here bears similarity to other parts of Phoenicia, struck at the time with a settlement crisis that resulted in both a reduction of the population and a decline in the importance of cities, among others. These events were not sudden; they resulted from a process lasting several decades and impacting mainly the coastal area.
Research Interests: Near Eastern Archaeology, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Near Eastern Studies, Islamic Archaeology, Levantine Archaeology, and 15 moreArchaeozoology, Late Antique Archaeology, International Migration, Crusader Archaeology, Byzantine History, Byzantine Archaeology, Umayyads (Islamic History), Early Islamic Archaeology, Syro-Palestine, Bilad Al-Sham, Byzantine churches, Late Roman and Early Byzantine Pottery, Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Palestine (History and Archaeology), Archaeology of the Southern Levant, and Archaeology of the Levant
Regular excavations of the ancient settlement in Jiyeh on the Phoenician coast, carried out by the Polish-Lebanese mission since 2008, as well as results of some earlier archaeological investigations there, allowed to discuss various... more
Regular excavations of the ancient settlement in Jiyeh on the Phoenician coast, carried out by the Polish-Lebanese mission since 2008, as well as results of some earlier archaeological investigations there, allowed to discuss various aspects of economic activity of the local population in the Hellenistic, Roman and Early Byzantine times. The obtained materials justify putting forward several hypotheses concerning the agriculture, craffts and trade carried out by the inhabitants of the settlement. It seems that olive oil and wine, together with the locally manufactured coarse pottery vessels and other productts, sold within the territory of the neighbouring towns (Sidon and Berytus), could have been the main source of profit allowing the inhabitants to purchase imported goods, such as fine pottery and marble coming from different parts of the Mediterranean. Moreover, the settlement in Jiyeh, due to its favourable geographical location, may have played an important intermediary role in the trade exchange between the villages located to the east, on the slopes of Mount Lebanon, and urban centres along the Mediterranean coastline.
Research Interests: Ancient economies (Archaeology), Late Antiquity, Ancient Trade & Commerce (Archaeology), Roman rural settlements, Roman Period, and 6 moreLate Roman and Early Byzantine Syria-Palestine, Hellenistic and roman Phoenicia archaeology, Ancient Roman economy, trade and commerce, Roman Rural Production, Early Byzantine Archaeology, and Rural Economy
Hellenistic steles and Roman cippi and sarcophagi discovered in the course of salvage excavations in Jiyeh (ancient Porphyreon) opened the way to the discussion of the artictic culture of Sidon and the northern part of its hinterland. The... more
Hellenistic steles and Roman cippi and sarcophagi discovered in the course of salvage excavations in Jiyeh (ancient Porphyreon) opened the way to the discussion of the artictic culture of Sidon and the northern part of its hinterland. The form and decoration of these grave monuments find no parallels outside the Sidonian cemeteries, pointing to very strong artistic ties between the metropolis and the villages in its chora. Compared to the output of other Syro-Palestinian sculptural centers, the products from Sidonian territory demonstrate exceptional originality, foremost in the choice of decorative motifs, but also concerning the stone material: local sandstone conglomerate and limestone. The steles, cippi and sarcophagi from Jiyeh enable us to date more precisely the locality's northern necropolis that functioned, in the light of the presented evidence, from the Hellenistic to the early Byzantine period. Moreover; the dating of the monuments leads to the assumption that the early phase of the cemetery coincided with the operation of nearby pottery workshops.
Research Interests: Levantine Archaeology, Syro-Palestinian archaeology, Death and Burial (Archaeology), Roman provincial administration, Hellenistic period, and 14 moreGravestones, Hellenistic art, Archaeology of death and burial, Roman Sarcophagi, Roman Art, Hellenistic and roman Phoenicia archaeology, Sidon, Chamber Graves, Hellenistic and Roman Syria, Archaeology of the Levant, Sepulchral art, Hellenistic Grave Stelai, Grave Stele, and Cippus
This article presents the results of current studies of Early Byzantine residential architecture in Jiyeh (ancient Porphyreon) that represents the best preserved remains of architecture of this period on the Lebanese coast. This... more
This article presents the results of current studies of Early Byzantine residential architecture in Jiyeh (ancient Porphyreon) that represents the best preserved remains of architecture of this period on the Lebanese coast. This preliminary characteristic is based on fi eldwork carried out in 2012 –13 in the northern, southeastern and western parts of the important housing quarter in Sector D, extended to include the investigations in Sector E in 2013. The discussion draws upon the results of earlier excavation work in Jiyeh (Porphyre-on), also taking into account parallels from other Syro-Palestinian sites.
Research Interests: Near Eastern Archaeology, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Levantine Archaeology, Late Antique Archaeology, Late Antiquity, and 12 moreSyro-Palestinian archaeology, Byzantine Architecture, Byzantine Archaeology, Late Antique Art and Archaeology, Ancient Mosaics, Graeco-Roman Mosaics and Wall Paintings, Roman rural settlements, Roman houses, Byzantine Mosaics, Roman Mosaics, Byzantine House Architecture, and Near Eastern Prehistoric Architecture, Household Archaeology and Use of Space: Social, Communitarian and Domestic
‘Marea’ is situated on the south-western shore of Lake Mareotis, some 40 km south-west of Alexandria and 4 km south of the Mediterranean coast, in a region that enjoyed considerable economic significance in the Graeco-Roman Period due to... more
‘Marea’ is situated on the south-western shore of Lake Mareotis, some 40 km south-west of Alexandria and 4 km south of the Mediterranean coast, in a region that enjoyed considerable economic significance in the Graeco-Roman Period due to wine production. In 2011, a Polish expedition from the Archaeological Museum of Kraków, on behalf of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, initiated excavations at House H1 and focused their research in the structure’s southern reaches. Then, in both 2014 and 2016, the excavations continued under the direction of a Polish team from the University of Warsaw. Based on this archaeological research as well as a stratigraphic analysis, it was possible to conclude that over the years the character of House H1 underwent substantial changes attested to by various kinds of alterations (wall demolition, introducing new partition structures and installations inside of rooms, constant rise of occupation levels). Our research enabled us to distinguish four main phases of habitation in this part of the archaeological site, beginning from the second century until its demise before the ninth century.
تقع منطقنة ماريا على الشاطئ الجنوبي الغربي لبحيرة مريوط، التي تقع على بعد حوالي 40 كلم جنوب غرب مدينة الإسكندرية، وحوالي 4 كلم الى الجنوب من ساحل البحر الأبيض المتوسط. في منطقة تمتعت بأهمية إقتصادية عالية في فترة الحكم اليوناني - الروماني بسبب إنتاجها للنبيذ. وفي عام 2011 قامت بعثة بولندية من متحف ك ا ركوف للآثار، نيابةً عن المركز البولندي لآثار البحر الأبيض المتوسط بالتنقيب في المنزل ه 1 وركزوا أبحاثهم في أج ا زءه الجنوبية. وفيما بعد في عامي 2014 و 2016 . إستمر التنقيب تحت قيادة فريق بولندي من جامعة وارسو. وبناءاً على هذا البحث الأثري وتحليل الطبقات، كان من الممكن أن نتوصل الى أن طبيعة المنزل ه 1 قد رتفاع مستمر للطبقات السكنية(. ولقد مكننا � نشاءات داخل الغرف، إ و � شهدت تغيي ا رت جوهرية دلت عليها التعديلات المختلفة )هدم الجدار، إضافة هياكل تقسيم جديدة، إ و بحثنا تمييز أربعة فت ا رت رئيسية للإستيطان في هذا الجزء من الموقع الأثري، بداية من القرن الثاني الميلادي حتى نهايته قبل القرن التاسع الميلادي.
تقع منطقنة ماريا على الشاطئ الجنوبي الغربي لبحيرة مريوط، التي تقع على بعد حوالي 40 كلم جنوب غرب مدينة الإسكندرية، وحوالي 4 كلم الى الجنوب من ساحل البحر الأبيض المتوسط. في منطقة تمتعت بأهمية إقتصادية عالية في فترة الحكم اليوناني - الروماني بسبب إنتاجها للنبيذ. وفي عام 2011 قامت بعثة بولندية من متحف ك ا ركوف للآثار، نيابةً عن المركز البولندي لآثار البحر الأبيض المتوسط بالتنقيب في المنزل ه 1 وركزوا أبحاثهم في أج ا زءه الجنوبية. وفيما بعد في عامي 2014 و 2016 . إستمر التنقيب تحت قيادة فريق بولندي من جامعة وارسو. وبناءاً على هذا البحث الأثري وتحليل الطبقات، كان من الممكن أن نتوصل الى أن طبيعة المنزل ه 1 قد رتفاع مستمر للطبقات السكنية(. ولقد مكننا � نشاءات داخل الغرف، إ و � شهدت تغيي ا رت جوهرية دلت عليها التعديلات المختلفة )هدم الجدار، إضافة هياكل تقسيم جديدة، إ و بحثنا تمييز أربعة فت ا رت رئيسية للإستيطان في هذا الجزء من الموقع الأثري، بداية من القرن الثاني الميلادي حتى نهايته قبل القرن التاسع الميلادي.
Research Interests: Pottery (Archaeology), Byzantine Studies, Egypt, Byzantine Architecture, Roman stamped pottery, and 11 moreRoman Pottery, Early Islamic Archaeology, Amphorae (Archaeology), Stamped Amphora handles, Pottery Production, Roman Amphorae, Roman coarse ware, Late Roman amphorae and coarse wares, Inscriptiones Graecae, Roman Archaeology, and LAKE MAREOTIS
Report from archaeological excavations in 2008 and 2009 carried out at the coastal site of Jiyeh in Lebanon, following up on earlier investigations, by Polish archaeologists.Remains of late Roman –Byzantine dwellings in the central part... more
Report from archaeological excavations in 2008 and 2009 carried out at the coastal site of Jiyeh in Lebanon, following up on earlier investigations, by Polish archaeologists.Remains of late Roman
–Byzantine dwellings in the central part of the site, excavated originally by a Lebanese mission in 1975, were re-explored including documentation of finds in local museum collections, said to have come from these excavations. Testing in this part of the habitation quarter produced a provisional stratification, from the Iron Age (8th–7thcentury BC) directly on bedrock, through the Persian–Hellenistic period (5th–2nd centuries BC) to the late Roman–Byzantine age when the quarter has reoccupied. A curious feature consisting of pots sunk in the floor in several of the late Roman and Byzantine-age houses is discussed in the first of two appendices. The other appendix treats on stone thresholds from these houses, five types of which have been distinguished, reflecting different technical solutions used to close doors
–Byzantine dwellings in the central part of the site, excavated originally by a Lebanese mission in 1975, were re-explored including documentation of finds in local museum collections, said to have come from these excavations. Testing in this part of the habitation quarter produced a provisional stratification, from the Iron Age (8th–7thcentury BC) directly on bedrock, through the Persian–Hellenistic period (5th–2nd centuries BC) to the late Roman–Byzantine age when the quarter has reoccupied. A curious feature consisting of pots sunk in the floor in several of the late Roman and Byzantine-age houses is discussed in the first of two appendices. The other appendix treats on stone thresholds from these houses, five types of which have been distinguished, reflecting different technical solutions used to close doors
Research Interests: Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Byzantine Architecture, Byzantine Archaeology, Late Iron Age (Archaeology), Iron Age (Archaeology), and 10 moreBronze And Iron Age In Mediterrarranean (Archaeology), Bronze and Iron Ages in Eastern Mediterranean (Archaeology), Iron Age, Late Roman and Early Byzantine Syria-Palestine, Hellenistic architecture, Egyptian sculpture, Horus, Doors, Thresholds, and Closure Systems in Roman Public and Domestic Architecture, Byzantine history and archaeology, and Horus the Egyptian God
Research Interests: Levantine Archaeology, Late Antique Archaeology, Syro-Palestinian archaeology, Church Archaeology, Late Antique Basilicae, and 12 moreChurch architecture, Late Roman and Early Byzantine Syria-Palestine, Marbles, Architectural Decoration-Bauornamentik, Early Byzantine Archaeology, Marble, Early Byzantine material culture, Early byzantine architecture, Wall Revetments, Roman Wall Revetments, Jiyeh, and Crustae
Imported marble vessels from Jiyeh (Porphyreon), a site on the Phoenician coast, could not be easily identified in terms of function and dating for lack of sound stratigraphic evidence. An examination of parallels from other sites in... more
Imported marble vessels from Jiyeh (Porphyreon), a site on the Phoenician coast,
could not be easily identified in terms of function and dating for lack of sound stratigraphic
evidence. An examination of parallels from other sites in the Eastern Mediterranean was
needed in order to determine the chronology and uses of these objects. Virtually all of the
Jiyeh vessels were thus dated to the early Byzantine period. Forms included utilitarian
mortars and plates, as well as tentative liturgical tabletops. The repertoire represents standard exports of vessels of these shapes to Syro-Palestine from Greece and Asia Minor. Their distribution in Syro-Palestine was conditioned by geographical factors, as well as the affluence of settlements that imported such objects.
could not be easily identified in terms of function and dating for lack of sound stratigraphic
evidence. An examination of parallels from other sites in the Eastern Mediterranean was
needed in order to determine the chronology and uses of these objects. Virtually all of the
Jiyeh vessels were thus dated to the early Byzantine period. Forms included utilitarian
mortars and plates, as well as tentative liturgical tabletops. The repertoire represents standard exports of vessels of these shapes to Syro-Palestine from Greece and Asia Minor. Their distribution in Syro-Palestine was conditioned by geographical factors, as well as the affluence of settlements that imported such objects.
Research Interests: Archaeology of Ancient Israel, Syro-Palestinian archaeology, Hellenistic Roman and Byzantine Archaeology in the Land of Israel, Stone artefacts (Archaeology), Ancient Trade & Commerce (Archaeology), and 11 moreArchaeology of Mediterranean Trade, Roman Marble trade and distribution, Late Roman and Early Byzantine Syria-Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Palestine (History and Archaeology), Marbles, Liturgical Furnishing, The Use of Marble and Other Stones, Early Byzantine Archaeology, Marble, Early Byzantine material culture, and Ancient Roman Marbles
The archaeological fieldwork in 2010 at the site of Jiyeh (ancient Porphyreon), situated on the Mediterranean coast between ancient Berytus and Sidon, focused in on full-scale excavations of the Late Antique streets and residential... more
The archaeological fieldwork in 2010 at the site of Jiyeh (ancient Porphyreon), situated on the Mediterranean coast between ancient Berytus and Sidon, focused in on full-scale excavations of the Late Antique streets and residential quarter (4th–7th century AD ), uncovering 21 rooms and three alleys. The results contributed to a better understanding of the street network in the quarter and the nature of the architecture. The quarter comprising the 21 newly uncovered rooms taken together with 80 from earlier fieldwork in 2008 and 2009 formed an extensive residential complex, approximately 40 m by 35 m. It is a unique example of private domestic architecture illustrating everyday life in Roman and Byzantine Phoenicia. A bread oven (tannur) suggested the presence of a bakery in this part of the settlement.
Research Interests: Levantine Archaeology, Village Studies, Byzantine Architecture, Byzantine Archaeology, Housing and Dwelling (Architecture), and 13 moreLate Roman Archaeology, Ancient Mosaics, Graeco-Roman Mosaics and Wall Paintings, Roman Provincial Archaeology, Domestic Architecture (Roman), Roman Architecture, Hellenistic and roman Phoenicia archaeology, Tannur, Roman Archaeology, Water Delivery System (Water Distribution System and sewage network)., Village Settlements, Jiyeh, and Porphyreon
Seven rooms were unearthed completely and another four in part during the second season of excavations in House H1 in Marea. Thanks to a stratigraphic test pit the approximate date of construction of this part of the ancient town was... more
Seven rooms were unearthed completely and another four in part during the second season of excavations in House H1 in Marea. Thanks to a stratigraphic test pit the approximate date of construction of this part of the ancient town was established tentatively as the 6th century AD; it remained in use until at least the 8th century AD. The building techniques and the plan of House H1 follow the Mediterranean tradition of domestic architecture.
Research Interests:
Le présent article a pour objectif de présenter les petits objets archéologiques recueillis par le père Jean Mécérian, lors des recherches qu'il a menées au cours des années trente du XXe siècle, dans l'Antiochène occidentale, et... more
Le présent article a pour objectif de présenter les petits objets archéologiques recueillis par le père Jean Mécérian, lors des recherches qu'il a menées au cours des années trente du XXe siècle, dans l'Antiochène occidentale, et conservés aujourd'hui à l'Université Saint-Joseph à Beyrouth. Ce lot comprend des eulogies en terre cuite, des moules métalliques, des petits objets en pierre, des récipeints en céramique et de nombreuses pipes ottomanes. Les plus anciens objets de la collection datent de la période hellénistique et les plus récents remontent au XIXe siècle. En raison de l'absence de renseignements précis sur le contexte de leur découverte, ces objets - publiés ici pour la première fois - ont avant tout valeur de pièces de musée. Ce lot comporte aussi quelques faux et des objets provenant du marché des antiquités. Bien qy'elle ne porte que sur une partie de la collection, la présente étude permet de compléter les informations sur la nature de cette dernière et de mettre en lumière les intérets scientifiques du père Jean Mécérian.
Research Interests: Symeon the Stylite, Byzantine Iconography, Roman Pottery, Archaeology of Pipes and Smoking, Eulogies, and 10 moreHellenistic Pottery, Roman Small Finds, Archaeology of pilgrimage, Medieval Art, Pilgrimage, Reliquaries, Byzantine Icons, Byzantine and post-byzantine icons and frescoes, Unguentarium, Relics and Reliquaries, Moulds, and Ottoman Ceramics: Glazed Ceramics, Paiansi, Smoking Pipes.
Ancient Porphyreon (Jiyeh/Nebi Younis) was a large rural settlement located on the coast of modern-day Lebanon, near the Phoenician city of Sidon. This article presents the initial research results of the stratigraphic data, extending... more
Ancient Porphyreon (Jiyeh/Nebi Younis) was a large rural settlement located on the coast of modern-day Lebanon, near the Phoenician city of Sidon. This article presents the initial research results of the stratigraphic data, extending from at least the eighth century BC to the seventh century AD, and how Phoenician village functioned. Analysis proves that it played a significant role in the local economy—on the one hand, providing for the city of Sidon and, on the other, mediating the exchange of goods with rural settlements, scattered across the mountainous hinterland. Uncovering the mysteries of this coastal settlement is extremely important, especially in light of the increasing threat to the archaeological heritage of Lebanon.
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The article aims to present unpublished information about the archaeological site at Jiyeh (ancient Porphyreon). The source material consists of R. Saidah’s archival photographs and plans. R. Saidah was the head of excavations conducted... more
The article aims to present unpublished information about the archaeological site at Jiyeh (ancient Porphyreon). The source material consists of R. Saidah’s archival photographs and plans. R. Saidah was the head of excavations conducted in Jiyeh in 1975. As this archaeological research was never published, the presented evidence and findings provide important additional information about the history of this site. The article focuses both on reproducing R. Saidah’s excavation work in Jiyeh and presenting his discoveries, especially those linked to the early Byzantine village. The archive material enables broadening our knowledge of the buildings that had been uncovered, some of which were later partially destroyed. In addition, archival photos depict some unpublished artefacts from R. Saidah’s excavations, including well-preserved bronze objects.
Research Interests: Levantine Archaeology, Late Antique Archaeology, Late Antiquity, Syro-Palestinian archaeology, Byzantine Architecture, and 15 moreHousehold Archaeology, Late Antique Art and Archaeology, Late Roman Archaeology, Graeco-Roman Mosaics and Wall Paintings, Late Roman and Early Byzantine Syria-Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Palestine (History and Archaeology), Byzantine Art and Archaeolgy, Inscriptions, Archaeology of the Levant, Rotary querns and millstones, Early Byzantine Archaeology, Oil lamps, Roman Archaeology, Byzantine history and archaeology, and Byzantine and Postbyzantine icon-painting
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The paper presents the best preserved of four terracotta protomai found recently in a secondary deposit in Porphyreon (Jiyeh, Lebanon). A detailed stylistic analysis indicates that the described protoma combined the Phoenician and Greek... more
The paper presents the best preserved of four terracotta protomai found recently in a secondary deposit in Porphyreon (Jiyeh, Lebanon). A detailed stylistic analysis indicates that the described protoma combined the Phoenician and Greek art traditions of the Persian/Archaic period.
Research Interests: Near Eastern Archaeology, Phoenicians, Levantine Archaeology, Syro-Palestinian archaeology, Phoenician, and 14 moreAncient Near East, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Phoenician Punic Archaeology, Terracotta Figurines, Archaic Period, Persian Period, Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Palestine (History and Archaeology), Coroplastic Studies, Phoenician and Punic Studies, Archaeology of the Levant, Greek Terracottas, Phoenician Art, Greek Vases and Terracottas of the Archaic to Hellenistic Periods, and Jiyeh
Archaeological excavations in the 2017 season continued the investigation of the early Byzantine and early Islamic House H1 in the northeastern part of 'Marea'. The building had already been excavated, but required further study to... more
Archaeological excavations in the 2017 season continued the investigation of the early Byzantine and early Islamic House H1 in the northeastern part of 'Marea'. The building had already been excavated, but required further study to identify the type and function of structures in its immediate vicinity. Five stratigraphic trenches were excavated, exploring a well shaft, one of the wall abutments, a small cell added to the building, a sewer and streets with an accumulation of debris and rubbish. This also enhanced a better view of the house surroundings as well as their development in the course of the 6th century and later. A range of Roman ceramics from layers underlying the house was also discovered in the deepest of the trenches.
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Archaeological investigations in late antique Marea, modern northern Hawwariya, Egypt, have revealed that a significant part of the site was a well-planned urban undertaking on a large scale, founded in the second half of the sixth... more
Archaeological investigations in late antique Marea, modern northern Hawwariya, Egypt, have revealed that a significant part of the site was a well-planned urban undertaking on a large scale, founded in the second half of the sixth century AD. Such newly planned urban sites are extremely rare in late antiquity.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Urbanism (Archaeology), Egyptian Archaeology, Urbanism, Byzantine Studies, and 8 moreByzantine Architecture, Byzantine Archaeology, Graeco-Roman Alexandria, Roman Urbanism, Ancient Urbanism, Byzantine Art and Archaeolgy, Early Byzantine Archaeology, and Byzantine history and archaeology
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Research Interests:
Research Interests:
https://chambertombs.uw.edu.pl/doors This database is dedicated to stone carved doors, which, equipped with various types of rotary axes and holes for locks, performed the same function as their much more common wooden counterparts. In... more
https://chambertombs.uw.edu.pl/doors This database is dedicated to stone carved doors, which, equipped with various types of rotary axes and holes for locks, performed the same function as their much more common wooden counterparts. In Syro-Palestine, they were mainly used in the Roman and Byzantine period, mostly in tombs.
Research Interests:
https://chambertombs.uw.edu.pl/ The aim of the research is to obtain new information on the history of funerary architecture and cultural changes that occurred among the inhabitants of Syro-Palestine in the Roman period. Chamber tombs –... more
https://chambertombs.uw.edu.pl/
The aim of the research is to obtain new information on the history of funerary architecture and cultural changes that occurred among the inhabitants of Syro-Palestine in the Roman period. Chamber tombs – built or rock-hewn structures accommodating family burials – have been chosen as the subject of the study. Tombs of this type became extremely popular in the Roman period. Their popularity is indicated by their number, amounting to several thousands, and their wide distribution in all the Roman provinces in Syro-Palestine. We need to observe that chamber tombs became an important feature of the landscape surrounding cities and villages. Therefore, the question when and why these monuments ceased to be founded concerns a consequential change in material and spiritual culture of the Phoenicians, Aramaeans, Jews, and Arabs living in the region.
The aim of the research is to obtain new information on the history of funerary architecture and cultural changes that occurred among the inhabitants of Syro-Palestine in the Roman period. Chamber tombs – built or rock-hewn structures accommodating family burials – have been chosen as the subject of the study. Tombs of this type became extremely popular in the Roman period. Their popularity is indicated by their number, amounting to several thousands, and their wide distribution in all the Roman provinces in Syro-Palestine. We need to observe that chamber tombs became an important feature of the landscape surrounding cities and villages. Therefore, the question when and why these monuments ceased to be founded concerns a consequential change in material and spiritual culture of the Phoenicians, Aramaeans, Jews, and Arabs living in the region.
Research Interests:
Marea/Northern Hawwariya is one of the largest and most important archaeological sites dating between the 3rd century BC and the 8th century AD located at Lake Mareotis in northern Egypt. Even though excavations have been carried out... more
Marea/Northern Hawwariya is one of the largest and most important archaeological sites dating between the 3rd century BC and the 8th century AD located at Lake Mareotis in northern Egypt. Even though excavations have been carried out since the end of the 1970s, the settlement is still largely unexplored. To rectify this situation, non‐invasive research has been carried out on 21.5 ha of the site using a precise positioning system and magnetometer measurements. Exact topographic and magnetic maps were prepared based on the data that were obtained. Simultaneously, verification research were carried out, including archaeological excavations, registering surface findings and satellite image analysis. In the south‐eastern part of the site, electrical resistivity measurements were taken as well. This approach allowed for the identification of the densely built areas of the Byzantine and Early Islamic town. On the south‐western side, some magnetic anomalies were registered, following regular patterns with clear linear borders and surrounded by wetlands without clear signs of habitation. On the northern side, the settlement was limited by an artificial coastline, forming straight waterfronts made of stone blocks. As for the town itself, a 260‐m street with adjacent regular built‐up areas was discovered. This regularity points to an order of planning, at least for the Byzantine part of the settlement. Recording of large amplitude magnetic anomalies proves the presence of heavily burnt objects. They may be interpreted as remains of kilns, perhaps used to manufacture amphorae, glass vessels and lime. Electrical resistivity measurements in the south‐eastern part of the site localized cavities in the natural limestone rock uplift. These may have been rock‐cut tombs. Multidisciplinary, non‐invasive research in Marea/Northern Hawwariya allowed for the quick generation of new knowledge on the topography of the site, significantly enriching information on its form and the functions of its various parts.
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The dataset is a systematic inventory of chamber tombs in Syro-Palestine from the first millennium BCE and CE. It contains information on the form, equipment and location of collective burial sites discovered in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon,... more
The dataset is a systematic inventory of chamber tombs in Syro-Palestine from the first millennium BCE and CE. It contains information on the form, equipment and location of collective burial sites discovered in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and parts of Turkey. This data was collected from published excavation reports and monographs on over 650 sites. This dataset can serve as a starting point for studying the regional diversity of material culture and burial practices and their changes over the centuries.
Research Interests:
Several kilometres north of the Phoenician city of Sidon are the remains of ancient villages. They were part of the economic hinterland of this metropolis. The nature of cultural connections and trade relations of these settlements... more
Several kilometres north of the Phoenician city of Sidon are the remains of ancient villages. They were part of the economic hinterland of this metropolis. The nature of cultural connections and trade relations of these settlements between the fifth century bc and the sixth century ad is the subject of the presented investigations. The source base consists of objects discovered during archaeological excavations in Porphyreon and Chhîm. The research method used is a comparative analysis taking into account qualitative and quantitative aspects. The available evidence shows that, at least since the Persian period, the settlements within the Northern Territory of Sidon have been clearly culturally and economically integrated. Differences in access to some material goods can also be observed. Due to the unsatisfactory state of research on the functioning of rural communities in the Phoenicia area, the presented results are an important supplement to our knowledge.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Roman Pottery, Ancient Mosaics, Terra Sigillata, Graeco-Roman Mosaics and Wall Paintings, and 8 morePhoenician Punic Archaeology, Roman Marble trade and distribution, Hellenistic Pottery, Terracotta Figurines, Greek and Roman Tombs, Roman Sculpture, Phoenician and Punic Studies, and The Use of Marble and Other Stones
The ancient topography of the settlement on the northeastern promontory at 'Marea' (North Hawariya) was the subject of investigations carried out at the site in 2018 within the frame of a broader excavation project. Fieldwork established... more
The ancient topography of the settlement on the northeastern promontory at 'Marea' (North Hawariya) was the subject of investigations carried out at the site in 2018 within the frame of a broader excavation project. Fieldwork established the date of some structures recognized along an ancient road. The oldest remains turned out to be from the Roman period, when the promontory became a rubbish dump for production waste, mostly sherds of AE 3 and AE 4 Egyptian amphorae, from the nearby pottery kilns. Two superimposed occupation levels were recognised, an earlier one from the beginning of the 3rd century AD or later, and a later one from the 5th-6th century. The buildings followed a regular grid that fits into the overall plan of the town. The research has resulted in a better understanding of the changes occurring in this part of the settlement at 'Marea'.
Research Interests:
The 'Marea' project of the University of Warsaw expanded the program to survey and excavate in the northern and eastern parts of the city in order to establish the character and chronology of the structures there. The eastern waterfront... more
The 'Marea' project of the University of Warsaw expanded the program to survey and excavate in the northern and eastern parts of the city in order to establish the character and chronology of the structures there. The eastern waterfront was uncovered, along with the adjacent latrines, streets and buildings, which are presumed to be residential. The structures which were examined were very regularly formed and involved large-scale earthworks. They were built no earlier than the mid-6th century AD, and, although their purpose sometimes changed, they remained in use until about the mid-8th century AD. Accumulations of Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic date were discovered, including the oldest remains this season, that is, a row of locally-manufactured amphorae serving an unexplained purpose.
Research Interests: Maritime Archaeology, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Egyptian Archaeology, Late Antique Archaeology, Byzantine Archaeology, and 9 moreEarly Islamic Archaeology, Amphorae (Archaeology), Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Terracotta Figurines, Roman Amphorae, Late Roman Amphorae, Archaeology of pilgrimage, Early Byzantine Archaeology, and Roman Archaeology
This volume is the result of a panel held in Warsaw on 8 and 9 June 2022, during the annual conference “Poles in the Near East” organized by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology and the Faculty of Archaeology at the University... more
This volume is the result of a panel held in Warsaw on 8 and 9 June 2022, during the annual conference “Poles in the Near East” organized by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology and the Faculty of Archaeology at the University of Warsaw. The panel, entitled “Marble Use, Trade, and Distribution in the Eastern Mediterranean during Late Antiquity”, consisted of 16 papers. Ten of them are included in the proceedings published herein as a special issue of the journal Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean.
The volume focuses on marbles from the early Byzantine period (4th–7th century CE), from a wide geographical area covering the ancient territories of Egypt, Arabia, Palestine, Phoenicia, Asia Minor, and Greece [Fig. 1]. Studies devoted to the use of marble in Antiquity have developed exponentially in recent times and are now a major field of research in Classical Archaeology. Notably, however, research to date has focused primarily on the Greek and Roman periods. Several important papers on marbles from later centuries have been written in recent decades for
multi-authored publications focusing on more general topics, such as the ASMOSIA Proceedings. However, collective publications devoted exclusively to marbles of the early Byzantine period are still lacking.
The volume offers a vivid picture of the use of marble during the early Byzantine period relying on a variety of approaches and methodologies. It not only provides insights into recent discoveries from important sites, but also presents perspectives on the social function and appreciation of this material. Several papers contribute to a better understanding of the working processes of the craftsmen and the reasons underlying the selection of materials for specific objects or building projects. Others
provide more detailed images, offering an opportunity to explore the diversity of marble objects in the light of various contexts and using different approaches. How ever, these contributions certainly do not fill all the research gaps, and much remains to be done in the investigation of early Byzantine marbles. One of the avenues to be pursued, for instance, is the study of the provenance of raw materials using archaeometric methods, which is well developed for artifacts from earlier periods.
The volume focuses on marbles from the early Byzantine period (4th–7th century CE), from a wide geographical area covering the ancient territories of Egypt, Arabia, Palestine, Phoenicia, Asia Minor, and Greece [Fig. 1]. Studies devoted to the use of marble in Antiquity have developed exponentially in recent times and are now a major field of research in Classical Archaeology. Notably, however, research to date has focused primarily on the Greek and Roman periods. Several important papers on marbles from later centuries have been written in recent decades for
multi-authored publications focusing on more general topics, such as the ASMOSIA Proceedings. However, collective publications devoted exclusively to marbles of the early Byzantine period are still lacking.
The volume offers a vivid picture of the use of marble during the early Byzantine period relying on a variety of approaches and methodologies. It not only provides insights into recent discoveries from important sites, but also presents perspectives on the social function and appreciation of this material. Several papers contribute to a better understanding of the working processes of the craftsmen and the reasons underlying the selection of materials for specific objects or building projects. Others
provide more detailed images, offering an opportunity to explore the diversity of marble objects in the light of various contexts and using different approaches. How ever, these contributions certainly do not fill all the research gaps, and much remains to be done in the investigation of early Byzantine marbles. One of the avenues to be pursued, for instance, is the study of the provenance of raw materials using archaeometric methods, which is well developed for artifacts from earlier periods.