The excavation of I.L16 began last season ('99) under the direction of Theresa Vogel. During this season, only the southern half (S ½) of L16 was dug as a 2 by 4 meter probe trench. This 2 by 4 meter area did however yield a number of important features and finds. Before hitting bedrock at elevations of 182.80, 182.92, 182.93, and 182.95, the S ½ of L16 was found to contain two walls. The first wall, WL16010, contained 2 door posts and a threshold. This wall ran E-W and is composed of 2 courses at a max. It is composed of stones that are of both basalt and limestone. In contrast, the second wall, WL16009, is only one course wide, butts up against WL16010, aligns N-S, and is composed of only limestone stones. This wall probably served as a divider, splitting this complex into an east and a west room. The limestone in both of these walls is cut. In addition, this cut limestone is also encountered in the ubiquitous rubble in L16, which suggests that a significant structure once stood here and experienced subsequent collapse. These CaCo3 stones (travertine) were robbed out probably from the temple and the paving stones, and were reused to build this structure. As a result, this complex is later than the temple and paving stones. In fact, it has been dated to be late Roman to Byzantine. Thus, it was in the late Roman and Byzantine periods that this structure was in use. It has been hypothesized that it is a domestic and/or industrial complex that is probably associated with the basin and olive press located to the south of WL16010 in square I.L15.

In the '00 season at Omrit, it was decided that the excavation of I.L16 was to continue. But, in the '00 season, the northern half (N ½) of L16 was to be explored. The purpose of this exploration was to gain knowledge and insight into the Byzantine complex that was discovered the previous season. As the following synopsis will reveal, the continued excavation of L16 yielded two important finds, namely, a large amount of collapsed material (including many cut stones) and the extension of WL16009 to the north.

We began digging the N ½ of L16 by declaring L.L16000. In this locus, the soil was fairly loose and the particle size variable with a number of cobble and boulder sized stones. Some of the stones and rocks were concentrated in the middle N ½ of L16. In addition, pottery and a significant amount of plaster was also uncovered.

After digging down ~5 cm and noticing both a compaction and slight color change, we switched to L.L16001. In this locus, the rubble of stones remained and the number of cut limestone increased. Other materials found included plaster, some glass, tesserae, a couple pieces of marble, and pottery (maybe including a large pithos storage jar) ranging from middle Roman to Byzantine, but with a Byzantine concentration. Also uncovered was a roofing tile and brick.

When we began to get through some of the larger stones in the rubble, the soil color changed again. We then proceeded to open L.L16002. In this locus, a large amount of rubble remained. We also found many small and a few large fragments from at least three storage jars dated to late Roman-Byzantine. But, perhaps more important was the discovery of two stones, one 45 by 45 cm and at 183.40 meters and the other 22 by 35 cm and at 183.52 meters, that were in line with WL16009. Thus, the wall WL16009 discovered last season extends into the N ½ of L16.

Having now discovered the extended wall and vast rubble, we have decided to close out L16. But, much has been learned. First, this Byzantine complex was significantly large. The uncovered rubble supports this assertion. Second, the extended dividing wall and amounts of plaster, roofing tiles, glass, and storage vessels suggest that this was an indoor room, in which one entered the threshold from south to north. In addition, the possible association of L16 with the basin and olive press, as well as the large number of uncovered storage vessels, may suggest that this areas was in fact an industrial site. But, the argument for the its domestic use has not totally been ruled out.