The Roman Period at HalaiThe following paragraphs were contributed by Kathleen Quinn, who studied the field notebooks of the Goldman expedition as part of a Master's thesis at Cornell entitled Late Antique Halai.
"During the 1992 season a test trench was dug in the eastern end of the nave and northern aisle in order to help clarify the chronology of the basilica church. This trench revealed a mosaic floor approximately 0.30 m below the modern ground surface. Later expansion of the trench showed that the mosaic also extended into the apse itself, but the northern boundary of the mosaic appears to be the colonnade wall (wall BS/BW) as no mosaic was found in the northern aisle. The full dimensions of the mosaic are not yet known, but it undoubtedly continues further into the nave and apse." "Study of the mosaic suggests that it can be dated stylistically to the 6th century AD. Clearly there was activity at the site around this time as Goldman records several Late Antique period artifacts, including coins of Arcadius (395-408) and Honorius (395-423) from the so-called bath complex, a coin of Justinian (527-565) found near Tower I, and many Late Roman lamps with the chi-rho symbol found in various trenches around the site and in Tomb VII. Goldman s excavations in the church also revealed a pebble and mortar pavement which may have served as the floor for the aisles or the nave."
The Late Roman church was probably abandoned in the late 6th century or early 7th century and there is no indication that burning or violence was involved. The discovery in 1992 of two tombs of Late Roman date in Area H raise questions about the nature of Late Roman use of the acropolis. One was the tile-covered burial of a child without offerings, datable probably to the 5th or 6th century (Grave V).
The other, Tomb VII, was a built tomb with a pointed vault and interior dimensions of ca. 2.37 m. by 2.20 m. The maximum height is about 1.37 m. and it has a floor paved with flat terracotta tiles. The tomb is flanked by walls that evidently served to support the vault and a mass of concrete was used to bind the exerior of the vault together. Entrance was gained by a dromos leading to a well- constructed doorway at the eastern end. Although the built tomb was rifled in antiquity, preliminary examination of the scattered bones suggest that it had contained the burials of at least 12 people. Fifteen lamps found in the dromos and two from the chamber are of the 5th or 6th centuries; almost all are decorated with Christian symbols. A single gold earring had also escaped the notice of the ancient looters.
Further observations by Kathleen Quinn suggest that the structure near the east corner of the acropolis that was described by Goldman as a Late Roman bath was in reality really an olive press and associated facilities.
Above: The "olive press." Go on to the Byzantine Period Go back to the Hellenistic Period
Last modified 2.5.98 |
"During the Late Roman/Early Byzantine period (350-650 AD) there
seems to have been renewed activity at Halai. Evidence for this activity
exists not only in the large volumes of Late Roman fill found around the
site by the current expedition but also by the large church located at the
peak of the acropolis and the references to Byzantine walls and levels noted
by Hetty Goldman in both her field diaries and her published articles.
Little survives to the present of Goldman's perfect network of Byzantine
walls that everywhere covered the more ancient constructions, but the
remains of the 
"The mosiac comprises figured panels bordered by
bands of cable patterns. It consists of small tesserae of artificial material
as well as natural stone. Although the mosiac is somewhat fragmentary, the
subjects of three figured panels can be identified: a bowl with birds within it
, a duck, and, near the central axis of the church, an eagle with a halo.
