Avgia Church Site

Abstract

Remains of an early medieval church were discovered on the homestead plot of a local resident in the Avgia district (Avgia street #50) near Batumi. The archeological survey revealed a large basilica to be dated to an early Byzantine period according to the building technique, planning, and archaeological materials. The church was built on the Latin cross plan (crux immissa) and had a transept hall and a narthex. Churches with a transept were widespread in the Byzantine Empire, including its peripheries, and were mostly, of two types: domed and domeless. The Avgia church is a domeless cross-shaped basilica.
The church walls are made of rubble, unprocessed stones and lime mortar. The rows are regular. The key areas are well bound and fortified by sandstone quadras. The horseshoe-shaped apse masonry is of a different type – opus quadratum composed of relatively small square stones. The flooring is made of lime mortar.

The architectonics of the building is entirely based on the Roman foot. The architecture analysis, as well as the parallel materials, allows us to date the church to the 5th/6th century, which corresponds to the dating of archeological finds disrecovered at the site.