Excavations at Tocra and Euhesperides, Cyrenaica 1968-1969

This article reports on the third season of the current project at Euesperides (Benghazi). A programme of geological augering has begun to investigate the presumed location of the ancient harbour and the process by which the harbour and neighbouring lagoon silted up during antiquity. Continued excavation in Area P has revealed two phases of buildings, with a plain pebble floor of the fourth century BC and mixed pebble and irregular tesserae floors of the late fourth/early third century BC. In Area Q work has identified buildings either side of a street, and two phases of city defences; outside the defences excavation has confirmed the continuation of a linear quarry ditch. In Area R the occupation sequence has been elucidated and it seems that the two main phases of purple dye manufacturing activity, using Murex trunculus shellfish, follow the abandonment of a courtyard house. Comprehensive study and quantification of coarsewares and transport amphorae has begun alongside continued study of the finewares, and confirms a wide range of trading contacts. The excavations have also produced evidence for the minting of silver coinage at Euesperides.

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 55%

Euesperides (Benghazi): Preliminary report on the Spring 2001 season

Wilson¹,

Bennett²,

Buzaian³

et al. 2001

“…Previous work had demonstrated that the processing of the Murex trunculus shellfish was undertaken within the interior courtyard of a substantial building (Wilson et ai 2003, 209-10). This building, its extent defined by remnant limestone foundation blocks and robbed-out wall lines, was located against the northern side of a main E-W aligned street^ and is comparable to the nearby building excavated against the street's southern side, located to the S-W (Jones 1983). The processing of Murex shellfish appeared to have taken place in the latest phase, and the associated deposits and working surfaces are distinct from the earlier domestic occupation.…”

Section: The Western Buildingmentioning

confidence: 94%

Euesperides (Benghazi): preliminary report on the spring 2004 season

Wilson¹,

Bennett²,

Buzaian³

et al. 2004

This article reports on the sixth season of the ongoing project at Euesperides (Benghazi). Excavation in Area P established the date of construction of the penultimate phase (and therefore of the plain pebble mosaic with inscription published last year) as 300-282 BC, following the abandonment and demolition of the antepenultimate phase beneath it. An area used for the preparation and cutting of the materials employed in the final-phase mosaics has been identified. In Area Q the dismantling of the street sequence was completed, and the W building fronting the street found to date from the fifth century BC. In Area R the crushed deposits of Murex shell were removed and working surfaces associated with purple dye production defined. Geological investigations to the west of the city revealed a possible location for the ancient harbour, and showed that the waterlogged deposits of the former sebkha are a good source for further palaeoenvironmental research.Study of the finds also continued. Further work on reconstructing the design of the final phase mosaic in Area P suggests a central motif probably of two dolphins set within a wave-crest surround. The initial results of the analysis of the mosaic samples taken from the final-phase Building A are presented. The study of the wall plaster fragments was begun, enabling some preliminary observations on the decoration. New forms of local black glaze pots have been recovered this year along with fineware imports from Attica, Corinth, East Greece, south Italy and the Punic world throwing light on the interrelations between Euesperides and the Mediterranean world from the fifth to third centuries BC. Full quantification of the coarse pottery assemblages continued this season, doubling the dataset of fully recorded pottery, whilst detailed analysis of vessel forms and their variations identified production techniques and chronological developments of vessel shapes within the local and imported wares. The study of the amphorae identified more Punic amphorae and an unusual basket-handled amphora which may be of Cypriot origin. Initial assessments of environmental and faunal remains were conducted.

“…The poor straight jointing of the later walls parallels that noted by Ward-Perkins et al (1986) at Ptolemais for the Islamic period, and may be taken as a further reason for assigning some of the structures to the post-Byzantine period. In this connection it is worth recalling the Arabic inscription and a type of green glaze lamp of the tenth century AD found respectively in the bath and fortress of Tocra (Jones 1983;. On this evidence Jones suggested that urban life continued for some time after the Arab conquest.…”

Section: Lo-inmentioning

confidence: 97%

Excavations at Tocra (1985-1992)

Buzaian

2000

This article presents a preliminary report on the post-excavation analysis of excavations conducted between 1985 and 1992 by the Department of Archaeology of the University of Garyunis (Benghazi) at the ancient city of Tocra. The construction and design of the buildings excavated are analysed, with particular emphasis on the late antique phases; and descriptions of pottery, other artefacts (including two early Islamic coins) are given. The area appears to have been an artisan district, as evidenced by the finds of a pottery kiln, ovens, vats and other structures associated with manufacturing activities. Mortar and plaster samples were analysed to help phase the structures, and to compare the excavated vats with their counterparts at another site within the city. A limited study of the faunal remains gives some insight into diet at the site in late antiquity.The study shows clearly that Tocra remained inhabited after the Arab conquest (AD 640s), confirming suggestions of previous excavations at other sites within the city wall.