Kourion Complex Basilica (extracted from McFadden's notebooks)

1935?

Excerpts re: Basilica

Diary

March 14. Removed most of marble from Z to K as shown in photos p.3 and good number of limestone blocks.

March 15. Moved stones and marble taken from Z to K - digging called off at 8.15 am. due to wind and rain.

March 16. Saturday. Removed more stones from Z to K. Work called off at noon being

March 18. Prolonged eastern extension of Tr.23 to Λ. Dug branch 5.80 m. south from point equidistant from 9 and ℒ and found wall running east and west which is undoubtedly continuation of wall in Tr.§ at 36 m. from north (see Notebook I, p.33).

March 19. Prolonged east extension of Tr.23 to O. Dug between Θ and §I to find threshold just south of wall running north-south. Found column between K and Λ 2.30 m. below surface - very large but dimensions not yet known. West extension finished and cleaned.

March 20. Trench 25 - morning 14 men - all in east extension north of Trench I. Prolonged east extension from 5-p. Began using wheelbarrows, 2 of them, to remove dump between K and Λ on account of danger of large stones falling in. Stopped work between K and Λ... Column found here yesterday 2.30 m. below surface is under wall running east-west and apparently supports it.

March 21. Tr.23 - morning 16 men - Finished 6-y which now goes to depth of 6 m. but contains nothing of interest. Connected branch started yesterday 7.30 m. north from V-3 with main trench 23 at V-3 (see plain p. and photos III 2 and 3).

Started branch 0-2 south of K-Λ dump and many stones removed from surface and good many stones under surface.

March 22. Much the same as 21st.

March 23. Found what appears to be a cistern with traces of red plaster.

March 25. Removed stones at K on south side of trench over wall running east-west - 20 x 4 roughly. Terracotta head of horse (Archaic) found 20 cm. above floor of cistern - 200-220 (see note 18 Finds) also coin on floor 240 (see note 19 Finds). Mosaic cleaned with acid to find it had colours. This removed two days ago but had appeared to be without colouring then.

March 26. 19 men - 3 wheelbarrows. Began trench south branch at 3-6 V... wall running east and west at 3-6 (see 9-10).

March 27. 19 men. Removed large marble column base in situ wall running east and west at 9-10.

March 28. 19 men. Uncovered mosaics adjacent to column base north of it and a step below it at 3-6 (see 10-16. Also small marble column base (No.2) in situ on wall to wall of larger column base - immediately east of mosaic floor - (see 12). Found street with drain all apparently part of street found

* [Penn Museum stamp? illegible] + [illegible]