On the Uplands to the North West of the modern city of Durrës (the ancient city of Durrachium), during an intensive survey organized by ICAA and University of Cincinnati in 2001, a new archaeological site on the highest hill of Spitalla was defined.
In September – October 2003 the ICAA and Institute of Archaeology excavated the remains of what proved to be an archaic temple with later Hellenistic reconstruction at the end of 4th Century B.C.
A significant feature of the excavations was the discovery of a fallen roof consisting of Archaic and Hellenistic tiles. There were also found the stones of foundation, which had the width of 2.20 m.
Further clearance of the foundations in 2003 revealed the plan of the temple’s cella (32×12m) and quadratic column basis. It is now clear that these belong to the peripter of the temple. Pottery fragments date to the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods, and include black glazed wares. Architectural fragments in soft limestone, including denticulate and other fragments, could belong to the decorative elements of the temple. Most significant finds that represent the decorative elements of this structure, were antefixes with painted red and black floral motifs, from the original Archaic and reconstructed Hellenistic roofs.
The structure may have been damaged during an earthquake, perhaps in the 4th Century B.C.