The site of Diaporit occupies a small valley on the south-west shore of Lake Butrint. Although the standing remains were noted by the archaeological Italian mission in the 1920’s the first systematic archaeological work was carried out by John Moreland and Mark Pluciennik, as part of the field survey of the hinterland of Butrint. The standing remains were planned and surface ceramics collected, which dated from the 1st century B.C to the 6th century A.D and the 13th to 15th centuries A.D. A further survey was carried out in 1999. The finds from the surveys indicated that the standing remains consisted of a large Roman villa and an Early Christian basilica. In 2000 three trenches were opened and excavations were conducted to test the depth and nature of the archaeological stratigraphy. Trench A was located on the south side of the site and exposed a large bath house complex with two construction phases. The first phase included a heated room (later dated to the mid first century), with a hypocaust standing to its full height. This was demolished to make way for the second phase which included an apsidal room, oval vestibule an another heated room. These later rooms were all richly decorated with exotic marble panel’s which were later removed. Following the removal of the marble, further walls were constructed within the interior of the apsidal room and a large grave was inserted beneath the western niche of this room. Trench B was opened between the bath house buildings and the church, adjacent to a large terracing wall. The removal of a 6th century tile dump revealed thick demolition layers within a room. The room walls of the room abutted an early structure which was richly painted with bands of colour and a simpler blue and white design. The painted rooms were subsequently modified with the addition of later walls that were intended to extend the upper terrace.