From the larger dataset the pottery from the Early, Middle and Late Byzantine period. In total 709 batches containing 2614 sherds with combined weight of 104,660 grams were analysed. The focus of the research was to see if there are any trends and observable differences between assemblages of the three houses during the three specified periods.

 

Contextual information of the finds was not always clear. Attempts were made to appoint finds to individual rooms inside the three houses, which was not always possible. Instead, the choice was made to divide them into their respective houses. The finds that came from squares that were outside of houses were separated. Thus, five locations were created; East, East/Middle, Middle, Middle/West and West.

 

The pottery was subsequently divided by function. The pottery is divided here by its function. Function groups are (as shown below from left to right): amphora, coarse ware (CW), heavy utility (HU), light utility (LU), table ware (TW) and ‘other’. The category ‘other’ comprises all the ceramics that do not fit in any other categories; for the most part this category is made up of lamps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

source: www.agora.ascsa.net

If we look at the studied three houses here, so; east, middle and west and take a look at each of the three periods we can see some differences.

 

In the Early Byzantine/Middle Byzantine period all three houses have comparable numbers of sherds and also the functions of the pottery vessels found there are comparable; Coarse ware is the most common, followed by table ware. Each house yields some amphorae. The chafing dishes from this period appear in every house, most of them in the eastern house.

 

Moving to the Middle Byzantine period we see an increase in the amount of pottery. The middle house in particular shows a marked increase. In this period we see a marked rise in table wares in all three houses.

 

In the Middle Byzantine/Late Byzantine period the amount of ceramics in the middle house is much lower. We find table wares in the eastern and western house, but the middle house is almost devoid of table wares.

 

Finally if we look at the east/middle and middle/west areas in between the houses. We see that they follow the general trends of the three houses. In the Middle Byzantine/Late Byzantine only table ware is found in these areas, no other types of pottery. Whilst in the earlier periods these two areas were more or less a reflection of the assemblages in the houses. If we look at the types of wares in the east/middle area in the Middle Byzantine/Late Byzantine period there is also a very limited range of pottery to be found.