After the destruction of the city in the 3rd century, Doliche once again developed into an important urban centre in the 4th century AD. Investigating this phase of the city’s history is one of the focal points of the Doliche project. At the centre of this is research into the hillside church of Doliche, an early Christian basilica built in the late 4th century AD on the southern slope of Keber Tepe. The church illustrates the development of Christian sacred architecture in late antiquity. Impressive mosaic floors, numerous alterations and remnants of the furnishings make it a valuable testimony to the cultural heritage of northern Syria.
The church is designed as a three-aisled basilica and measures around 45 metres in length. The mosaic floors, which were laid in various phases between the 4th and 6th centuries AD and impressively document the changes in mosaic art during this period, are particularly impressive. The mosaics in the central nave show complex geometric patterns designed in the so-called ‘rainbow style’. The side aisles and the portico of the church were also decorated with mosaics, whereby the geometric mosaics of the northern aisle in particular are still well preserved.
The apse was raised several times in the course of renovations and was covered with a mosaic in the 6th century AD, which shows a river landscape symbolising the Nile in the centre.
A special feature of the hillside church is the bema, a raised platform in the nave, which was equipped with rows of seats all around and can be found in many churches in northern Syria. It served as a seating area for the clergy during the service. The bema was only added later and then enlarged again in a second phase. Its floor is also decorated with elaborately designed mosaics.
To the east of the church is a building complex that may have been part of a bishop’s palace. This complex is directly connected to the southern side room of the apse and encloses several representative rooms grouped around an inner courtyard.
Finds from a cistern in the northern aisle and from the destruction layers indicate that the church was abandoned in the 7th century AD and has not been rebuilt since. The final destruction of the hillside church was caused by an earthquake.
