The first two research locations were at Cape of Palla, north from Porta Romana, where a year earlier the construction of an oil depot had revealed (and destroyed) the ruins of a temple. Work was conducted here in two sectors, respectively Cape Palla 1 and Cape Palla 2. Trial excavation work was undertaken near the oil and chemical storage depots at Cape Palla in order to search for the foundations of the destroyed temple as well as to collect and document evidence. Remains previously collected from the top of the nearby hill, where spoil from the construction site had previously been dumped, comprised of several roof elements, pottery and wall blocks. A further excavation to recover more material took place here as well. A high density of pottery and limestone porous blocks was discovered on the edge of the site occupied by the new oil depots, which strongly suggests that it was the site of the archaic temple. Ceramic material and architectural elements recovered from the top of the hill has led to the conclusion that both the Cape Palla and Spitalla temples belong to the same period of construction. In both cases the preliminary study of ceramic and other finds suggests that the temples have been built in the Archaic period, with a continuation into the Hellenistic period, when they underwent a second rebuilding phase. There is no material clearly dateable to the Classical period, although a full analysis of all the material has yet to be carried out. Over 350 buckets of pottery were collected and examined and all diagnostic tiles, pottery and samples of the limestone blocks were retained for further study. An initial study of the material has established that there were two construction phases of the roof, as is the case of the Spitalla temple. The architectural elements and antefixes belong to the Late Archaic and Hellenistic periods and some parts of the entablement are still well preserved and show clearly Archaic period colours and motifs. Similar to the temple of Spitalla, the construction materials, tiles in particular, are exact reproductions of those made in Corinthian workshops at that time. However it is possible that these artefacts were locally produced following a metropolitan model. A few stamped tiles belonging to the Hellenistic period were recovered. One mentions what maybe a prytanios named (EPIFALAKRIONOS). Judging from the typography of the letters this tile would appear to date to the second half of the 3rd century BC. Two other stamped tile fragments carry the (DAMOSION) name, indicative that they originated in state owned workshops.

Last year’s trial excavations and collection of the dumped material of the destroyed temple indicated that the location of the temple was in the area now occupied by oil platforms. This conclusion was reached after finding a high density of tiles, limestone blocks and pottery. During the 2006 season, several new trial trenches were opened. Interviews of local people who worked on the installation of the oil containers were also informative. On the basis of the trial excavations and the interviews it is clear that the area contains not just a single temple, but a larger complex containing several distinct architectural elements. As a result of the intensive work undertaken in July 2006, the team discovered several masonry structures, which probably formed part of a fortification circuit wall. Nearby, around 2m deep, the team also discovered the in situ remains of the fallen temple roof and the temple floor. The fallen roof parallels the structure and chronology of the temple at Spitalla, with a primary Archaic phase and a secondary Hellenistic phase. The roof is of a composite style known as a Corinthian and Laconian type, while the tiles appear to be local. Again as seen at Spitalla, the inclination of the remains of the roof and sequences of the circuit wall suggests that they were destroyed by tectonic movement. The discovery of the in situ remains was tremendously important and the temple will continue to serve as a focus of research during the next field season. Further north from the temple, two trenches were opened to discern the extent of the site. A limestone kiln was discovered on the ridge of an adjacent hill. Masonry structures, of unknown function, were found along the valley between the temple and kiln hills. One of the most significant results of the 2006 season was the compelling evidence pointing to the location of the emporion of ancient Epidamnos (Dyrrhachium). Its origins might be related to the Archaic temple or a rural sanctuary dedicated to some unknown cult. Corinthian animal terracotta’s were recovered from the complex and, along with other associated structures found recently, date to the Archaic period. The landscape in which the archaeological remains were found supports a hypothesis that the Archaic temple formed part of an emporion.