Preliminary report on salvage excavation at the southern limit of ancient Balagrae (modern al-Beida)

Abstract

Abstract This article presents a preliminary report on a rescue excavation conducted during the building of a new mosque close to the campus of Omar al-Mokhtar University at Balagrae (al-Beida) in 2017. The excavation, undertaken by the Department of Archaeology at the university, revealed the remains of part of a building with a mosaic floor built in the late second or early third century AD, and perhaps destroyed by an earthquake in AD 365. The discovery created considerable local interest and resulted in the developers relocating south the new mosque to prevent further disturbance to the archaeological remains. The building was carefully backfilled for long-term protection.