Church excavations

Church excavations. A first early Christian aisleless (single nave) church was built over the remains of a Roman building. Around AD 600 the building was extended with a rounded apse. Between the 10th and 11th centuries this church was rebuilt as the second church on the site with three apses and a west porch, and this church remained in use until the early 11th century. The interior of the church was decorated with wall paintings, of which only a few small fragments have survived (for instance in the Crypt). There are also some bronze earrings from a 7th/8th century tomb.

Lobecena’s gravestone, south portal, church with apse, 7/8 c. A gravestone slab with carved inscription was recovered from the aisleless church with apse, the inscription referring to “Lobecena albada” (Lobecena dressed in white), almost certainly a girl who died in childhood, buried in her christening robe. The burial place behind the choir screen, an area normally set aside for the clergy, suggests she came from a high-ranking family. Perhaps Lobecena was the daughter of a Langobardic (Lombard) or Bajuwaric (Bavarian) ruler. Lobecena’s gravestone is exhibited in the Temple.