Polish Archaeological Mission to Palmyra Seasons 2008 and 2009
Polish Archaeological Mission to Palmyra Seasons 2008 and 2009

Summary/Abstract: The 2008 and 2009 seasons saw a continuation of excavations in the northern Basilica (No. IV), the largest church building in Palmyra. Both the eastern part of the nave and the southern aisle, as well as a large fragment of the apse, were cleared. The most unusual feature uncovered in the church is the so-called Syrian bema, located in the middle of the nave. This is the first time that this liturgical installation has been evidenced in central Syria. Excavations revealed also traces of Early Islamic (9th–10th century AD ) occupation of the site, when the abandoned church building was re-oriented and transformed into an official/residential structure. This new arrangement reflected the changing urban landscape of Early Islamic Palmyra.

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