Dr. Mark Schuler

I was under the weather today and so did not go into the field. Enjoy this photo of the NIP.

Today formal excavation ended for the Northeast Insula Project. We covered the floor of the portico by the fountain and we filled in the probe at the north end of the portico of the church.

This project began in 2002. I am now done digging. I am thankful to Arthur Segal, Michael Eisenberg, and all the good people from the University of Haifa for giving me the opportunity to execute this project.

During the rest of this week, I will spend my time at the site looking carefully again at a number of problem areas, seeking to understand what I do not yet.

Today we completed work on a probe of the portico of the Northeast Church. The probe is located next to the stylobate in the north section of the portico. Work on the probe ended when we reached bedrock. The probe reveals the leveling layer below the stylobate. The probe is also bisected by rows of stone (north to south and east to west) which served to support a level base for the portico over the bedrock. Click the picture to see the 3D model.

Our work now centers on the portico of the church. We finished exposing the lacunae next to the west wall, where benches were once placed. Those benches preserved some of the mosaic of the original floor. We have identified three patterns in the geometric mosaic running the full length of the portico.

We also began work on a small probe in the portico. Almost immediately we encountered the cobble base for the original mosaic.

After removing this base layer, we probed a bit deeper and ran into a line of stones. At this point we speculate that they may be the cover stones for a draining system under the street, as we found in the other small cardo. We will learn more tomorrow.

We concluded work on the probe in Cardo 3 North. Two interesting factors: we discovered the original courses of stones in the House of Tyche and we learned that the drainage system under the street directed some of the water likely to the industrial work in the northern section of the structure (garden). Click the picture to view a model of the probe in 3D:

We also continued to uncover fragments of the first floor in the western portico of the church. Dr. Michael Dorner is seen working here on one segment of mosaic.