| THE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN |
THE INSTITUTE
FOR THE STUDY OF
Antiquity
and
Christian Origins |
L. Michael White, Director | 1
University Station C3450 | Austin, Texas 78712 | 512.232.1438 |
512.232.1439 fax
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WORK AND SUMMARY
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OSMAP
Home > Preliminary Results
> 2005-2006
Report of the 2005-2006 Field Season
The OSMAP team opened several strategic trenches (= ‘T’) in 2005.
Two of these involved the clean-up of debris from 1960s trenches (Tα
and Tβ). Others involved the removal of backfill to study the
masonry techniques of ancient walls (T1-5, T7). One trench (T6)
was opened to explore the results of a recent survey which purportedly
identified remains of an unexcavated structure directly to the north of
IV.17.2. Four results of this 2005 campaign are summarized
below. All ceramic and numismatic finds were analyzed in 2006.
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| TRENCH ΒETA |
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First,
Tβ
(IV.17.1.9) revealed two earlier features of the building
never reported at the time of its excavation. The first of these
is the remains of a threshold and doorway, both of which predate the
fourth-century mosaic floor in room 10. Adjacent to this earlier
threshold was also discovered the foundation of a supporting pier, or
wall spur, which originally projected c. 0.15 m into the room (room
9). Although the current evidence for the separation of rooms 9
and 10 does replicate this same division of space, the removal of the
pier, or wall spur, in the later phase suggests a slight remodeling of
the earlier space. |
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[CLICK TO ENLARGE]
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| TRENCH 2 |
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Second, T2
(IV.17.1.6) revealed an area with ancient
stratigraphy. Underneath of layer of collapsed roof tiles, the
remains of a cocciopesto surface were discovered. Preliminary
ceramic analysis suggests that the surface dates to fifth or sixth
century C.E. A previously unknown reticulate wall, not bonded to
any visible structure, was also discovered here running east-west from
the southeastern corner of room 10. Its presence demonstrates
conclusively that room 6 was, indeed, a part of the larger building
complex at one point in its history.
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[CLICK TO ENLARGE]
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| TRENCH 4
& 7 |
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Third,
two
trenches, T4 (IV.17.1.16) and T7 (IV.17.1.14), were
excavated down to the foundations of the walls. The results have
provided new information about the construction of buildings on this
site. The poured concrete foundation of the wall in T4, extend to
a depth of 0.023 m above sea level (ASL). The concrete foundation of
the wall in T7, on the other hand, extend to a depth of 0.46 m ASL.
These results suggest that the walls of room 10 and the walls of room
14 may have been constructed at two different times; and that the
earliest structure on site may not have had the same shape as the one
currently visible. Such a conclusion calls into question the
nature of this building or buildings in its earliest phase and raises
the possibility that its function as synagogue was only a later social,
architectural development.
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[CLICK TO ENLARGE] |
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| TRENCH 6 |
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Finally,
T6,
located to the west of IV.17.1 and directly north of
IV.17.2, revealed that these two buildings were not united by any
shared wall or structure, as was purportedly shown in the survey plan
created by the DAI in 2003-04. The lowest levels of T6 did,
however, show evidence of a compact surface, approximately 0.65 m ASL,
which may be the remains of a much earlier road predating the Severan
coastal highway (2.655 m ASL). The material on top of this surface,
datable by the discovery of a coin, may suggest a significant ground
raising project in this quarter during the middle of the second century
C.E. |
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[CLICK TO ENLARGE]
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PARTICIPANTS
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L.
Michael
White, Susan Gelb, Douglas Boin, responsabile di saggio
(UT-Austin); Brent Nongbri, responsabile di saggio (Yale); Letizia
Ceccherelli, ceramiche (Cambridge, UK); Daniela Williams, nummi (Roma
Tre, Italia); Marzia Di Mento, ceramiche. Field staff: Joshua
Burns (Yale), Kali Grable, Amanda Krauss, Keith Kitchen, Jess Miner,
Grant Nelsesteun, Sarah Scullen (UT-Austin).
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AUTHORS
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L.
Michael
White, Susan Gelb, and Douglas Boin (2005-2006).
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[BACK TO PRELIMINARY REPORTS] |
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Home | The
Ostia Synagogue Area Excavations |
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ISAC
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| UPDATED
4.21.2010 | DRB |
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