Akko’s First Byzantine Find

August 1, 2011

“Until now, the city was known from Christian sources which mention its bishop who took part in formulating the new religion. Now, the first tangible evidence is emerging…Until now no remains dating to the Byzantine Period have been found, save those of a residential quarter…” explained Feig.  

The building was constructed with dressed ashlar stones. The size of the building and its ornamentation indicate that it was a public structure. It might have been a church that served the bishop of Akko in the Byzantine Period. Terra cotta pipes survived below the wall levels and mosaic pavements adorned the floor in one of its rooms.

The early Christian sources mention the bishops of Akko and Caesarea who participated in major international conferences and meetings thus attesting to the centrality of Akko for the Christian religion in this period. In addition, we also have evidence of an anonymous pilgrim from the city of Piacenza in Italy regarding the richness and splendor of the city in AD 570, in which he mentions the beautiful churches within its precincts.

The scarcity of Byzantine remains that have been found so far can be attributed to the destruction caused by those who came subsequently. In addition, earlier structures from the Hellenistic Period were exposed beneath the building. Their contents included imported pottery vessels from the Mediterranean basin, among them amphorae from the Isle of Rhodes.

Source: Excerpts of an article by Edgar Asher, Isranet and IAA

Photo Credit: Photo by Isranet and IAA