The Johns Hopkins University Eisenhower Express seza07 MDI z= z s a a Call #: DG 431.76 xxcavations at the triconch palace 2000 and 2004 Journal/Book Title: Archeologia medievale Volume: 29 Issue: Month/Year :2002 Pages: 343-353 Article Author: Gilkes, Oliver Article Title Medieval Butrint Note: WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS. The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials Under certain conditions specified in the la, libraries and archives are authorized to fumish a photocopy or other reproduction. One ofthese specified conditions is thatthe photocopy or reproduction isnot to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research”, Ifa user makes a roquest for, of later uses, a photocopy oF reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use”, that ‘user may be liable for copyright infringement, This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment ofthe ‘order Would involve violation of copyright law Patron Information Name: Nathan Dennis | Username: ndennis2 | status: Graduate Department: History of Art Email: nathan.s.dennis@gmail.com Delivery Method: Deliver Electronically Transaction # 1177367Archeologia Medievale XXIX, 2002, pp. 343-353 Oliver Gilkes — Andrew Crowson - Richard Hodges — Kosta Lako — Joanita Vroom Medieval Butrint: Excavations at the Triconch Palace 2000 and 2001 INTRODUCTION The Graeco-Roman port of Butrint, ancient Buthrotum, lies close to the mouth of the Vivari Chan- nel, 3 km east of the Straits of Corfu (see Hopars et al, 2000). Although the UNESCO world heritage site is best known for its classical phases, beginning in the eighth century BC, it was nevertheless intermitrently an important medieval port. The significance of the medieval phases was frst recognised by Luigi Ugolin, Director of the inter-war Italian Mission that essen? tially discovered Butrint. Ugolini, before his early death in 1936, published a brief overview of the town's com- plex medieval history (1937: 67-108), and. was pre- Pring 2 fall monograph on this chapter of Buesints story, unpublished notes for which were found in the Museo della Civilta Romana at Rome (Gitxts, Mita) 2000; Hovces ef al. 2000: 255). Following the Sec- ‘ond World War, the Albanian Institute of Archaeology excavated in a number of areas in Butrint, Itis clear from their published accounts and archival documen- tation; that extensive deposits of medieval material containing ceramics, coins, metalwork, and graves were found (Lako 1981; Institutij Arkeologjisé Arkivi 4109- 4127, 4464-4475). Some of the more solid stone struc- tures, such as churches, were also excavated (Meksi 1988). The history of Butrint during this period, as Ugolini demonstrated, is complex. Drawing upon the research of Peter Soustal (2003) Tab. 1 sets out the principal occupants and features of the town. ae I Scar Dysnins Ene | Come anne essa of estos | Chach nd toustan bong espa Meo assaf ened ot ‘Chae Sa batons Netentaser? | Sipneantename gue TET TETE — Ragas gon] Guan anaeestor Blah [TIE | Cras at ow | Sipieant ome grouse Taveia Byers En Meme _ EET [Dospan of Es espa Meroe TaTETGSE——] Rego Ringer of] Cass, rcs wa er ‘ontzaions - ___| Shear comic gous “HEETEGT— [Versa Rapatic | Farcabons ard tee 757 ‘Capa OT ‘San Suan ne Magee | TSRTSTE | Vretan Rop—| rtn or hat 15 ease ‘argdar owes an 2006 Stontored one! chen ‘Tab. 1 — Historical rable. 343 ‘The collaborative excavations of the Butrint Foun dation and the Institute of Archaeology began in 1994 and have concentrated on the lower reaches of the city close to the Vivari Channel. Trial excavations showed that the mid- to late-Roman triconch palace that fronts the channel was reoceupied during the 13° century by several structures buile of rubble and mor- tar masonry as well as timber (Fig 1). Earth-bonded walls, mortar floors and post — and trench — built structures were found within rooms of the ruined palace. Frequently Late Roman walls were reduced toausable level and redundant doorways were scaled (cf. Hooces et al. 2000). In 2000 and 2001 two large excavation campaigns made it possible to examine these structures in more detail. This has raised the possibility of reconstructing the morphology of asec- tion of the medieval city. AN ASSESSMENT OF THE DEPOSITS ‘The problem of the medieval period in Butrint, is, to some extent, one of identification. On the acropo- lis of Butrint (Fig. 2), its midslope and its base, stone buildings and several churches have been found pos- sibly to be dated to the 134 century and later (BOWDEN, Mrrciisit forthcoming), However, on the low-lying skirt of land extending from the base of the acropolis to the Vivari Channel there are few substantial build- ings other than churches and the remains of two pos- sible Venetian-period houses. These may have con- trolled a series of fish weirs across the channel (Man: ‘iN forthcoming). As the city wall running along the side of the Vivari channel was refurbished several times in the Middle Ages, itseems probable that there was a considerable population and associated dwell- ings in the Middle Ages. The problem was how to identify these buildings. The largely organic compo- nents of medieval buildings frequently leave little detectable trace in the upper part of the soil profile. ‘The Late Roman triconch palace and associated seruc- tures are sealed beneath a humic overburden thas in places is up to Im deep. The traditional method Bdopted to remove this apparently structure-Less "top Soil’ deposit was to employ labourers to dig it off Gown t0 the wall tops oF Roman buildings. Twelfth- to Dthecenury ceramics and soins were recovered from cach season's topsoil clearance, but, being unstratified, were of lines research value. A differ- tent approach Was required. ihe 3001 season the 1opsols on the westside of the triconch site were recorded vertically and hori- yontally on a 5m grid. Artefacts were located by more figorous context division in order to observe deposit Stratification. Our aim was to clarify whether the over- shurden contained evidence for extended medieval oc-NOTIZIE SCAVI E LAVORI SUL CAMPO. Triconch Palace, Butrint Lu Fig. 1 ~ General plan of the ‘riconch Palace. oon the fragmentary evidence obtained from previous seasons. WEST OF THE TRICONCH PALACE: THE ELEVENTH CENTURY ONWARDS ‘The area lying to the west of the triconch buildings has been idemtified as a commercial and storage sector of the late Roman domus (Bowvex, Hopcts etal. 2002 forthcoming). Excavations during’ 2001 also revealed part of a sequence of renewed activity during the me- dieval period focused on the access through a narrow gate in the city wall to the Vivari Channel. The ruined late Roman structures, as well as the open space they surrounded, were extensively reused from the 11°, if not before (Fig. 3) In the north of the excavated area, dilagidated late Roman buildings were levelled and earth-bonded lime= stone block divisions and partitions were inserted, Thick mortar floors were set within two new small Fooms. A rammed pebble road or yard was laid from the Late Roman city walls extending from the gate to the Vivari channels up to the front of the new building opposite. A vast deposit of crushed shell on the cast side extending across the road surface, suggests that Fig, 2 ~The ruined medi the huts of VI icropolis castle in 1928 with ch shepherds, cupation. Additionally, it was hoped that this detailed methodology might isolate a sequence of medieval horizons, features or deposits that could throw light 344 Fig. 3 — Fleventh-century phases in the western area of the Triconch Palace ratecngt ace Fig. 4 ~ Eleventh to twelfth-century phases in the western area of the Triconch Palace.