La basílica paleocristiana de Ilici (L’Alcúdia d’Elche). Desmontaje, contextualización y restitución desde la reexcavación bibliográfica

Abstract

The archaeological and metrological study on the Early Christian basilica of Ilici and on its polychrome mosaic is based on the data obtained in 1905 by the discoverers Eugène Albertini and Pere Ibarra (including some unpublished data of the latter) and on the data obtained by the new excavations undertaken by Alejandro Ramos from 1948 to 1955 up to the maps and photographs of 1971 made by Helmut Schlunk and Theodor Hauschild from the German Archaeological Institute. They enable us to confirm the module scheme, which is based on the pertica decempeda. The study also allows us to introduce one volumetric restitution hypothesis which differs from that actually presented to the public in many different matters. We also argue for dating the basilica in the second half of the 4th century A.D., according to parallel studies on the building and on its contextualization. In addition, we are bringing forward some ideas on the building’s later evolution up to its possible destruction in the 8th century A.D.