The site of the Junia Rufina well is one of the monuments of the ancient city of Butrint. In the Roman period it was used as a monumental fountain dedicated to Junia Rufina. In late antiquity this well was transformed into Christian chapel.
The archaeological excavations of 2007, were carried out above the well-head and along the southern side of the chapel. The earliest evidence encountered was part of a large building built of squared and faced stones. Within this structure a series of rubble layers produced coins dated to the later 4th-early 5th centuries that are typical examples of the smallest grade of late antique base-metal nummus. The latest of the rubble deposits had been levelled and was cut by three stone-lined graves of adults. One of these graves was capped with flat stones and contained an inhumation accompanied by a particularly striking pair of perfectly preserved composite silver earrings. The form of the earrings, the ceramic evidence associated with the burial and a coin attributed to Justin II (565-578) point to an interment date in 6th century.
Use of the cemetery was discontinued, probably before the 7th century, but after a gap of some 400 years, the area was revived once more as a graveyard. Between the late 10th century and early 11th century a new cemetery was laid out. Most of the pottery finds (mainly amphorae) from this episode can be dated to the middle Byzantine period (10th-11th and 11th-12th centuries) and originate from Apulia. Seven unaccompanied graves were found: four of children or infants and three of adults. One of the infant graves was covered with reused tiles and is the earliest example of an a cappuccina burial in the ancient city of Butrint. Another infant grave was marked with a headstone.
During the 11th century the church began to collapse, demonstrated by a thick deposit of building rubble. Two significant finds were recovered from this level. Firstly, at the bottom of the deposit, an anonymous follis dated 1042-1050 from Constantinople. Secondly, and more remarkable, a so-called Benno-jeton, a small circular fibula brooch in the form of a coin. It bears the effigy of the Salian King and Holy Roman Emperor Henry III (1046-1056), ringed by the inscription: +O:ENNO PVCI:T (BENNO ME FECIT –Benno made me).
Use of the site following the destruction of the chapel is difficult to ascertain from the current excavation.