Le modificazioni del sistema difensivo di Lilibeo in età tardoantica e bizantina: un resoconto preliminare

Abstract

Excavations carried out in the archaeological park of Marsala, allowed expanding the picture of Lilybaeum, between Late Antiquity and the Byzantine period. The excavations have revealed so far, probably, the western segment of the city gate, open towards the harbour, which, after a long abandonment, was plundered and domestic units were built on top of the mostly erased structure. The pottery from the rooms includes transport amphora and African Red Slip Ware D. New work carried out to the northeast of the western wing of the gate uncovered a large portion of another building in limestone blocks similar to the previous one in masonry and size. Though not fully excavated, it is highly probable that it could be the east wing of the gate; even in this area the defence system was abandoned, and the buttress transformed into a bathhouse. The pottery comprises transport amphorae, African Red Slip Ware and local amphorae.
Keywords: Lilybaeum, fortifications, south-west gate, bathhouse, urban transformations