Excavation and Research at Elaiussa Sebaste : The 2003 Campaign

Basilica constructed at the Roman agora during the Byzantinian Period. During the restoration of the opus sectile paving in the east sector of the church’s southern nave, a sounding brought to light a large segment of a polychrome mosaic. The mosaic is decorated with marine motifs in the field and has a frame of various geometric bands (white, red and yellow set in a black background). The frame is identical to the mosaic fragment found under the central nave in 1997; the mosaic floor must have originally measured 16x16 metres and very probably has a central emblema, Thus it seems to belong to a vast building which was partly demolished and leveled over when the Imperial-age building of the agora was constructed. A great number of polychrome marble fragments and fragments of opus sectile revealed in the area west of the circular building. These originate from the wall decoration of the building as well as a later construction phase of the floor. Cleaning and re-examination at the area of the temple which was studied by Gough in early 1950’s. A small quadrangular structure with opus sectile floor has been discovered north of the apse of the later basilica which was built into the southeastern end of the temple. The existence of opus sectile floor and a lead drainpipe suggest the identification of the structure as a baptismal pool. Restoration of the opus sectile floors in the area of the agora.