The original walls built to flank the North Decumanus were identified in CI (north of the street, CI. 002) and BI (south of the street, BI.053). These were rebuilt above ground level at a later date (see below, Phase 5). In BI a foundation trench (074) was exposed, 1 m. wide and dug from virgin soil (Fig.7b). A small sounding of 1m. square establishes its depth to be just over 2m. The trench was sealed by the cement floor of a plastered cistern (067) built beneath the ground-level floor of the original building (plan, Fig.8b . There are no remains of this floor or roof of the cistern. A short wall (063) extends south for 2.5 m., abutting at right angles the Decumanus wall 053 and apparently in the middle of the cistern (the full length and width of which was not exposed). This wall stands 1.7 m. above the cistern floor and the plaster on its west face continues around its southern end. Plaster is evident on the east face but is obscured by a later construction (066, Phase 2). The eastern half of the cistern has been more disturbed. Some traces of plaster remain on wall 053 (running behind the later construction 066), but the cement floor has disappeared. Its level is indicated by a distinct change in deposit (from 073 to 061, Fig. 7b) and the damage is attributed to the construction of feature 066. The short wall 063 probably functioned to support the cistern roof, perhaps based on a system of arches. A stone projection, cantilevered out from wall 053, 2.38 m. above the cistern floor and 0.60 m. west of wall 063, may also have contributed to the support of the roof. The threshold of a doorway (054) which opened onto the Decumanus was exposed. This was built across in the rebuilding of Phase 5.

Dating : No coins were found in the Phase 1 deposits (BI.074 foundation trench, CI.015/016 cement surface and CI.017/018 below surface). The only lamp fragment was Hellenistic. The pottery was a mixture of Hellenistic forms in local ware, local imitations of Early Roman Eastern Sigillata A bowls and small fragments of Eastern Sigillata A. The deposits at Samaris provide an Augustan and general first century date for such a corpus. The Jerash material is predominately local, and shows some development of from the prototypes. A late first century date for Phase 1 is suggested, which agrees with Kraeling's proposal for the institution of the city street plan.

During this period the cistern roof/ground floor of the building in BI was dismantled, although will 053 remained intact. A massive stone structure (066) was built abutting the east face of mid-cistern wall 063, 2.60 m. high (as extant) and 1.68 m. wide (plan, Fig. 8b, section, Fig. 7a). Its full length was not exposed and its purpose remains unknown. It is a rough construction with uneven courses of reused stone (some faced with monochrome painted plaster of a fine quality), and loosely packed with rubble and clay mortar. The top courses overhang towards the east. Clay deposit 073 is probably a foundation trench associated with its construction (thereby destroying the cistern floor). The remaining cistern space was then filled to the top of wall 063 (loci 065 and 061) and a crushed lime surface laid. Thin occupation deposits 064 and 060 accumulated upon this surface. They were only traced west of wall 063: the rebuilding activities of Phase 5 obliterated the contemporary deposits east of this line (Fig. 7a). Dump material in CI (010, 011, 012, 013,014) directly corresponds with the finds from BI Phase 2.

Dating: The BI fill contained a silver denarius of Trajan (Rome) dated AD 107 (j 1413, pl. VI.6) A provincial coin of Hadrian (Gerasa) AD 117-138 (J 1414 pl.VI.3) came from the foundation deposit 073. A large amount of pottery was recovered and the early Roman forms of Phase 1 continue to occur in abundance and variety. Many small bowls with string-cut bases, kraters with everted ledge rims, and wide-necked jugs present a similar corpus to the Jerash tomb material recovered in the 1920s. Cooking pots of Cafarnao Types A16 and A1715 were common, as was the form illustrated from Heshbon, of which a complete vessel was recovered.

These considerations as well as comparisons with stratified deposits from the recent British Unit excavations outside the North Theatre, indicate a late second-early third century date for the filling of the cistern. How long the occupation continued in the third century is uncertain.

Gravelled clay (059) beneath a homogeneous deposit of yellow clay and crushed plaster fragments (049) overlies the occupation levels of phase 2. They seem to be a packing for a series of thin plaster floors interleaved with ashy occupation debris (045). The floors were patchy but at least two were clearly identified and there may have been more.

Dating: A silver denarius (Rome) of Trajan, 103-111 (J 1292) and a provincial (Gerasa) coin of Lucius Verus, 161-169 (J 1322) were recovered. The pottery sample is small and undistinguished. On stratigraphic position alone the occupation must belong from somewhere in the third century (probably the second half) into the second half of the fourth century (see Phase 4).

Overlying the Phase 3 floors was a comparatively thick deposit (047), some of which had been dug away in Phase 5 (Fig. 7a). It contained much charcoal, carbonized wood and burnt limestone. The latest plaster surface of 045 had clearly suffered overall burning and a major destruction of phase 3 by fire is indicated.

Dating: Four coins were recovered: an Antonianus of Diocletian AD 284-296 (JI 287), a coin of Constantius II AD 351-361 (JI 484), one of Valens AD 364-375 (JI 288) and one of uncertain identification but dating between AD 364 and 392 (J1 289). The destruction is clearly late fourth century, perhaps in the last quarter.

Again the pottery sample is not large. Of interest is the first appearance of the typical Byzantine cooking pot with the "S" shaped neck profile" and the lid with incised decoration". An African Red Slip bowl was also present.

The destruction of Phase 4 may have been the direct cause of the major rebuilding evident in phase 5. Foundation trench 044/062 cuts the destruction deposit and the earlier occupation surfaces (Fig. 7b) and the south well of the Decumanus (053) was completely rebuilt from the ground level upwards. The doorway north to the Decumanus was omitted. Wall 063 was partly dismantled as was structure 066. Levelling fills 070, 069, 048 and 043 were laid. The remains of a large square of rectangular plastered basin (046) over I.75 square metres were found above the fill. Some stones of one side wall were left in situ, one with the plaster floor of the basin continuing up the side of the stone. The floor associated with this basin had been removed by building activity in phase 6.

Dating: Fifteen datable coins were found in these deposits. The latest four belong to the late fourth-early fifth centuries. J1418 is more closely dated to AD 395-408, and J1416 is AD 388-425. If the time between the destruction and rebuilding is not unreasonably long, then a date for the rebuilding at the beginning of the fifth century seems likely.

A fair example of pottery from these levels was obtained. An African Red slip bowl21 was present and a local imitation of African Red Slip Form 50B. Bowl forms similar to one found at Pella seem to come in at this time.

During this period a substantial paved floor was laid covering the eastern half of the northern room in BI and partly overlying the basin 046. The western half of this room has a clay floor containing two rectangular areas made up of small unshaped flat stones (features 039 and 040, plan Fig. 8a, section Fig. 7a). They are interpreted as bases of foundation platforms for some unknown apparatus. A massive base (057) measuring 85 x 60 cm. and 68 cm. high, consisted of three thick ashlar blocks laid on a more substantial foundation course. It sits directly on basin 046 in the middle of the room and is set within the phase 6 floor matrix. It must have supported a considerable weight. A reasonable interpretation of the arrangement of the northern room is that the western half of the room functioned as a small production area containing some sort of machinery, while the eastern half of the room, opening on to the cardo at a major intersection, was reserved for retail and display purposes. The smaller southern room in BI was completely paved and opened on to the cardo. The building in BITI was also built at this time but there is no evidence of any paved floor.

Dating: Three coins from these deposits date to the late fourth century and early fifth century. One very worn coin, J1260, appears to be of Leo I, dating 457-474. An African Red Slip bowl was present, but more useful for chronological purposes is the presence of a Late Roman C bowl Form 3 Es..

The most likely date for the laying down of the phase 6 floors would seem to be at the beginning of the sixth century.

A decline in civil activities at the north end of the cardo is reflected in the changed function of the BI building. The door to the cardo in the northern room was blocked and the middle section of the wall dividing the northern and southern rooms (wall 050) was dismantled to floor level (plan, Fig. 8a; Pl. IV). Platforms 20-30 cm. high were built the length of the east and west walls of the northern room (032 and 034) and along the south wall (the existence of which is inferred) of the southern room (035). They consist of a retaining face of large squared stones in a single course, filled with red clay rubble and surfaced with yellow clay. The southern half of the west platform was two courses high. A small bin (033) was built upon the northern end of the east platform. Numerous tie-holes were gouged through the wall stones, between 75 cm. and 1.45 m. above the phase 7 floor level and clustering round the platform areas. A thick floor (030) of fist-sized rubble stones and a homogeneous yellow clay was laid upon the phase 6 surface, running over the dismantled section of wall 050 (Figs. 7a and 7b).

The building thus seems to have been transformed in to a stable, with platforms functioning as a base for feedbins and holes for tethering large animals such as cattle or horses. The clay and rubble floor would be more suitable for animals than stone paving, perhaps with an overlay of straw. An earth ramp on the exterior of the building up to the threshold (056) of the only access, providing an easy passage for animals. A rough wall (058) runs east-west, abutting and continuing the line of wall 053 and blocks the cardo sidewalk at the north corner of the building. Such late blocking walls were also found outside the BIII building (which seems to have had a similer function in this phase) and are also found along the Decumanus sidewalks (see the report on the Decumanus by A.G. Walmsley, above). They probably served to pen animals or store fodder.

Dating: A follis of Justin II (Nicomedia) dated 569-570 (J1127), was found beneath stable floor 030 when cleaning the cracks between the paving stones, but roughly level with their surface. Another follis of Justin II (Theopolis) dated 574-575 (J1145) was found within the floor matrix of BIII (024). The probable date for the transformation of these buildings into stables is sometime in the last quarter of the sixth century.

An interesting ceramic group, some-times referred to as "Jerash" bowls or plates26 makes its earliest Hagiographical appearance within the floor and matrix of phase 7 (Fig.5). It appears in quantity in the subsequent dump levels. The group is in a red ware and characterized by an impressionistic painted decoration in purplish-brown and white paint, depicting floral, faunal and human images. As a defined group appearing in numerous sites, it is of particular chronological importance and will form the subject of a special study, to be published in the near future. A subdivision of this group consists of some of the same forms and ware but has an interior decorated with incised concentric circles around a small central stamp (Figs 5:1 and 6:4).

The stable seems to have undergone a period of disuse prior to a substantial collapse of the building. A large animal bone dump (016, 022) containing sheep, goat, pig and species of bird, especially chicken, was deposited in the middle of the stable, and an ash dump (028) partly blocked the doorway 056. The coins identified from this and subsequent in BI do not post-date Justin II.

Sometime during the seventh century the upper walls of BI (013, 015, 012, 027, 029) the BI and BIII buildings collapsed. The collapse deposit consisted of the red clay and rubble mortar common to the walls of the Byzantine rebuilding interspersed with large stone tumble.

Following this collapse, BI was used as a general dump. Distinct layers of deposit have been discerned. One consists of a large mass of cement and a concentration of red hypocaust tiles pierced by a central hole (009, 010, 025), and another (the latest dump material, 002, 004) is distinguished by the extraordinary amount of roof tiles it contained. Neither the coins nor the pottery suggest a date later than the seventh century. In BIII however, the coins and pottery clearly indicate the continued use of this area as a dump into the first quarter of the eighth century..