The archaeological excavations of 2008 undertaken in the early Christian basilica of the roman castrum of Scampis, focused on the removal of the thick alluvium soil layer (US [0003]), and the replacement of the excavation grid, with a new one, which was more regular and followed the direction of the basilicas axis. In order to have a detailed organization of the sanctuary area, trench K4 was divided into 4 smaller trenches (K4 a, b, c, d); Trench K3 was extended on the most eastern part of the southern nave (including the southern side of the basilicas transept); in addition, new trenches were open outside the basilica, on its eastern side (K5) and in the northern nave (K6).
The excavation in trenches K2 and K3, uncovered the eastern end of the southern aisle and a part of the pilaster wall (US [0067]) of its arcade, the wall extension of this area, and another wall line which extends 1, 5 m away and runs parallel to the previous wall; it seems to belong to a room which enabled access to the transept. The arm of the transept does not emerge beyond the aisle, but has an additional room further to its south. A group of large and irregular stone slabs, perhaps part of a grave cover, was revealed within the small room. The excavation of trench K4 uncovered major parts of the architectonic elements of the sanctuary gate and windows.
During this season the stylobate wall of the sanctuary gate was entirely revealed; it has the shape of a letter “Π”, with a prostoon that advances toward the nave. The stylobate is constructed with reused fragments of Roman sarcophagi and stelae; one of the stelae has a column basement carved on the surface (SF 003). Although the sanctuary floor was not uncovered, it could be assumed that the mosaic floor extends toward the sanctuary area. The mosaic floor on both sides of the prostoon appeared entirely damaged at the tesserae level, though its rudus was mostly well-preserved. This damage might be probably related to the destruction of the surrounding walls.
The destruction layer revealed in trenches K4a and K4d contained considerable stone fragments of the semicircular apse. Similar stone blocks were also found in K4 c, which are probably related to the destruction of the arcade vaults. The discovery of the upper wall of the apse showed that the windows had been subject of a significant modification: a triphoral window existed in a first phase, with a total opening of 350 cm; in a second phase it appears to have been replaced by an immured type of window, perhaps a smaller biphore or a triphore. This is testified by the discovery of a window columns in the rubble layer (K5 (US [0038]) behind the apse. The plaster preserved on both sides of the triphoral window shows no evidence of paint, while the inner part of the apse was painted in red (frame), blue and green (surface). Under the destruction layer layer, the upper part of the synthrone was uncovered. It was made of bricks and has a semicircular shape.
The excavations undertaken in trench K5 showed that the apse of the basilica was covered with mural mosaic set on a lime layer. Only one of the fragments found (SF 175) contained decorative motives.
The excavations in the northern nave (trench K6) uncovered in situ frescoe fragments of the northern wall. Abundant plaster fragments were also discovered in the destruction layer US [0048].