The fifth season of archaeological excavations undertaken in the amphitheatre of Durrës by a joint Albanian-Italian team took place between the 21 of July and the 8th of August 2008. The aim of this season was to expand and deepen the excavations in the southern sector, in order to understand the structures of the amphitheatre and the arrangements made during the Late Roman and Early Medieval periods. Also, it was intended to continue the excavations in the sondages opened in the northern and southern gallery of the amphitheatre down to the lower level of the foundations. The excavations in the southern sector (C2, C3 and D), identified a stratigraphic sequence that, at the lowest level reached so far, contained a layer of demolished walls and pottery materials of the Late Roman period. Several graves were uncovered in this layer, suggesting the abandonment of the amphitheatre at this time, and the use of cavea and arena as a cemetery. This level was covered by a thick soil layer of dark brown colour, where the excavations revealed pottery fragments (mainly cooking vessels) of the Early Medieval period, and foundation traces of reused stones of the amphitheatre’s structures bonded with scarce mortar, which are perhaps part of the domestic structures of this period. The upper layer was another occupation level of building remains and rich pottery materials (various typologies of local wares and imported glazed pottery) of the 10-13th century AD. The latest layer contained destroyed wall ruins and human skeletons of all ages, which are probably related to the dramatic earthquake of the year 1273.
The excavations carried out in the large gallery of the southern side of the amphitheatre, revealed ruined walls, which are probably arrangements of the medieval periods, perhaps destroyed due to the earthquake. A medieval house was uncovered in the gallery, built probably of reused materials of the amphitheatre, and as suggested by the pottery found in the foundations levels, dates at the beginning of the 12th century AD. In the entrance of the gallery, the excavations revealed a fill layer of compounded materials and ruined wall that were probably constructed there after the final abandonment of the amphitheatre, at the end of the Late Roman period.