Lamluda: from the excavation to the archaeometric analysis

Abstract

In the last ten years the Archaeological Mission of Chieti University in Cyrenaica has investigated, through intensive field surveys and excavations, several contexts of the Cyrenaican chora. Among the many recorded settlements, Lamluda is the most interesting because of its urban organisation, productivity and location at the intersection of the main road network. Our aim is to present the preliminary data from the mapping, survey and excavation of the site, including the results of the archaeometric analysis and the epigraphic study. Among the copious ceramic finds the Roman coarse wares and amphorae are particularly numerous, dating mainly to the Imperial, Late Roman and Byzantine periods. The pottery illustrates not only the longevity of the settlement, which lasted until the eighth or ninth century AD, but also helps to trace the evolution of agricultural wealth and trade. Through archaeometrical and archaeological research it is possible to identify the main local products and their circulation, as well as the imported or exported amphorae and hypothesise on the nature of their contents.

GIS of thechoraof Cyrene: fortifications and Christian buildings in Late Antiquity

“…Today, Lamluda is a small village 28 km east of Cyrene, which still shows the impressive ruins of the ancient centre, identified by the researcher as the town of Lamnia (Limnias) in the Itinerarium Antonini along the route linking Cyrenaica to Tripolitania (Leptis Magna) westwards and to Egypt (Alexandria) eastwards. Another important road axis connected the town to the coast near Ras el-Hilal (Ward-Perkins and Goodchild 2003, 295–302; for a more comprehensive examination of this context, see Antonelli and Menozzi 2014; Menozzi and Antonelli 2014; Menozzi et al 2010). 4 The urban planning is based on a north–south road axis ( cardo ), which has been partly obliterated and deviated by the presence of a square fortification, which is not accessible because of a huge collapse (Figure 9).…”

“…Later this phase was obliterated by new surface layers and by a different distribution of space. After an initial examination of the pottery found during the excavation, fragments relative to the latest phase date back to the second half of the sixth century, so the first phase of use of the area should date back, at least, to the first half of the same century, later followed by the construction of the rooms and their later transformations (Menozzi and Antonelli 2014). The last phase, on the basis of the pottery finds and building techniques, might not date to before the second half of the sixth century or even later.…”

“…The presence of two churches and of a triconchos (for the latter, the relationship to Christianity remains uncertain) characterises the village of Siret Om Sellem, located on the road that links Cyrene with Derna. The settlement is very wide and is also characterised by the presence of a huge number of presses, which were probably oil presses (Menozzi and Antonelli 2014, 66). The western church has three aisles including an apse oriented to the west, and a probable presence of pastoforia ; moreover, a wall indicates a caesura between the naves and the narthex.…”

“…In addition, in the village of Mgernes, well known for its monumental appearance and which has recently been considered an important centre of agricultural production (Menozzi and Antonelli 2014), the scholars have mentioned two churches, conventionally known as east and west basilicas, according to their reciprocal position. The eastern church, which is in the south-east area of the settlement, is quite well preserved, even though the vegetation does not permit a detailed study of its plan and features.…”

“…Two churches are certainly known at the Lamluda settlement, but in different contexts. The site has been excavated by the Mission of Chieti University (Menozzi and Antonelli 2014; Menozzi et al 2010; Menozzi, forthcoming) and therefore this can be considered a sample case for studying the rural villages of this territory. Unfortunately, because of the current unstable political conditions in this context, it has not been possible to continue the archaeological excavations, but in future it could be extremely important to start excavating at least the urban basilicas.…”