Excavations in the northern and eastern parts of the Byzantine town at Marea

Abstract

The ‘Marea’ project of the University of Warsaw expanded the program to survey and excavation 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.