International congress of byzantine studies belgrade, 22 27 august 2016

Katerina Chamilaki
Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Ephorate of Antiquities of Aetoloacarnania and Lefkada, 
Patras, Greece; 
[e-mail]
Ioannis P. Chouliarás
Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Ephorate of Antiquities of Thesprotia, Ioannina, Greece; 
[e-mail]
Rescue Excavations at the Ionian Motorway in Aetoloacarnania: 
Revealing New Aspects of the Byzantine Past of a Region
The five year rescue excavations of the Greek Ministry of Culture in Aetoloacarnania during 
the construction works of the Ionian Motorway and its branches revealed many previously unknown 
byzantine and post byzantine sites, shedding light to the local history and archaeology. Among the 
most impressive sites discovered and fully excavated was the 
extra muros
byzantine cemetery, of 

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348
more than 600 graves, with a three aisle cemetery basilica, at the site of Agios Georgios, northeast of 
Kalydon and near the banks of river Evinos. The discovery reveals aspects of byzantine, especially 
middle byzantine, habitation in the wider area of ancient Kalydon.
The next site dates mainly in the early byzantine period (5
th
-7
th
century) and was discovered 
on the south bank of the Ambracian Gulf, on the roman route connecting Nicopolis and Patras. 
Among other finds stands a large public building probably used as a 
mansio
facilitating travelers 
and visitors of the nearby Christian basilicas, with a successive use of more than two centuries. The 
presentation will focus on topography of the settlement, the architectural type of the complex, and 
a preliminary presentation of the finds.
Björn Forsén
University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; 
[e-mail]
Brikena Shkodra-Rrugia
Institute of Archaeology of Albania, Durres, Albania; 
[e-mail]
The Early Christian Landscape of Dyrrachium: 
New Archaeological Evidence on the Basilica of Qerret
In this paper we explore the patterns of development in the southern Dyrrachian hinterland 
with special emphasis on how Christianity is reflected in the changing rural topography beginning 
from the fifth century AD. The analysis is based on previous extensive surveys and excavations in 
combination with the first preliminary results of the new Durres Hinterland project as well as extant 
historical sources. We discuss the importance of the Via Egnatia for the location of churches in the 
landscape and provide new information on the architectonic plan, history and identification of the 
basilica of Qerret.