marina el-alamein excavation report 2004, pam 16, 2005

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MARINA EL-ALAMEINEGYPT

MARINA EL-ALAMEINEXCAVATION REPORT 2004

Wiktor Andrzej Daszewskiin collaboration with

Iwona Zych, Gra¿yna B¹kowska, Artur B³aszczyk

1 The team directed by Prof. Dr. Wiktor A. Daszewski, comprised: Mrs. Iwona Zych, Ms Gra¿yna B¹kowska, Mr. AndrzejRetkowski, archaeologists; Mr. Artur B³aszczyk, Ms Ma³gorzata Krawczyk, architects. Dr. Grzegorz Majcherek studiedthe pottery, and Ms Joanna Lis, conservator, joined the team for two days to restore the limestone statue found in Tomb30. The SCA was represented by Site Inspector Mme Nama Sanad Yakoub. The Mission would like to express its gratitude to the SCA authorities, the Secretary General Dr. Zahi Hawass inparticular. Mr. Mahmud Yasin, Director of the Marina archaeological site, was instrumental for the progress of ourwork. The Mission is also grateful to Mr. Abd el Latif el Wakil for his unfailing and competent assistance on a numberof occasions.

2 Cf. PAM XIII, Reports 2001 (2002), 79 and Fig. 5.

The present campaign carried out under the auspices of the Polish Centre of Archaeology ofWarsaw University lasted from March 1 until April 3, 2004.1

The excavations, which started with the fortuitous discovery of a sculpture that led ineffect to the clearing of a new box tomb (T 30), covered both the necropolis and the town area.In the necropolis, work concentrated on the excavation and documentation of a large tomb(T 21), of which only a small part of the aboveground mausoleum had been uncovered yearsago during salvage work by Egyptian inspectors. The presence of three mosaic emblematadecorating the center of the floor in the banquet hall, noted in the report on fieldwork in2001,2 prompted the decision to study the complex more thoroughly. As regards the newlydiscovered tomb (T 30), its architecture was explored, leaving the examination of theanthropological material for the coming season.

The other focus of the work this year was the clearing of the entire south portico of themain Town Square. This was accomplished and a further section of the tumbled walloverlying a street running south from the southeastern corner of the square was cleared. Here,too, the work will be continued in the future.

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Fig. 1. Plan of the cemetery in Marina el-Alamein, state after the 2004 season

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BOX TOMB T 30

A tomb of the box type comprising fiveloculi, dated to the 1st/2nd century AD,was discovered in the northwestern part ofthe necropolis, 3.02 m north of box Tomb27 and 22.80 m southeast of Hypogeum-Tomb 7 [Fig. 1].3 The main structure, whichfaces east, was rectangular in plan and con-sisted of three loculi oriented E-W. An ex-tension of two additional loculi, also orien-ted E-W, was added onto its northern side.One more loculus tomb, oriented N-S, wasbuilt onto the back of the main structure,the entrance to it facing north.

The main tomb was 2.95-3.03 m long(E-W) with a façade that measured 2.98 m(N-S). The walls of the tomb rose to a heightof c. 0.70 m; the slabs covering the loculihad an average thickness of 0.25 m. At thehighest preserved point, at the west end,the total height of the tomb was 1.04 m[Figs. 2,3]. The space inside the structurewas divided with two stone partition walls,forming loculi from 0.54 to 0.70 m wide,and all 0.70 m high inside; the opening ofthe central one was effectively decreased tojust 0.40 m by a block built into the en-trance on ground level. The southern andnorthern loculi of the main part had theclosing slabs in place. The two northern-most loculi that were found closed had anadditional set of stones and slabs leaningagainst the blocked openings; they wereset in sand some 15-30 cm above the ori-ginal ground level, additionally blockingthe openings to the burial niches [Fig. 4].

Once the northern extension with twoloculi was added, the total length of thetomb façade reached 4.66 m. The two loculiwere 2.80 m long (N-S). The covering slabs,an average 0.13-0.14 cm thick, made use

of a ledge left for this purpose on the wallof the main part of the tomb. The southernloculus of the two was 0.70 m wide, thenorthern one 0.69 m; both were 0.70 mhigh. A low step, 0.12 m wide and about0.10 m deep, was introduced in front ofthe entire extension, presumably to com-pensate for the difference in bedrock level.The ground in front of the two northernloculi was leveled even with the top of thisstep with crushed lime debris and sandmixed together. Both openings were alsoblocked secondarily with slabs and stonesin the same manner as the loculi of themain part of the tomb.

On top of the slabs covering the north-ernmost loculus, there was a row of uprightslabs, 0.26 m high and 0.15 m thick,lining the northern and western edges. Thetotal height of the tomb with the enclosureslabs at the west end was 1.09 m. Insidethe enclosure, a skeleton burial of a juve-nile was discovered directly on top of thecovering slabs of the loculus. The skull wasmissing, but otherwise the bones werefound in anatomical order, the body laidout in supine position with left hand on thepelvic area and right one extended awayfrom the body.

The western extension, added on to themain part of the tomb and making use ofa ledge left on the back wall of the tomb tosupport the closing slabs, was of the samelength as the width of the main tomb, thatis c. 3.00 m; its width ranged from c. 1.03 mat the northern end and c. 0.95 m at thesouthern one. The height of the loculuswas 0.66 m [Fig. 5]. (The difference in thewidth was due to the west wall of thistomb being doubled, the space in between

3 Cf. PAM IV, Reports 1992 (1993), 29; PAM V, Reports 1993 (1994), 29-31.

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Fig. 3. General view of the main part of Tomb 30 from the northeast. The limestone funerarystatue stands in the presumed position of the naos (Photo I. Zych)

Fig. 2. Plan of Tomb 30(Drawing A. B³aszczyk)

the rows of stones being packed with smallstones and rubble; the outer façade com-prised an even row of slabs.) The top of thistomb was evened out with a compact layerof sand mixed with chips of limestone,concealing from view the covering slabsand outer wall structure. In the course oftime, a 'bench', made of irregular stonesand broken slabs, was added all along thewestern and southern walls of the exten-sion, c. 0.09 m above the original groundlevel in this part. Its width was an average0.35 m, the height being 0.27-0.30 mabove bedrock.

A layer including limestone 'altars'with traces of burning and broken pottery,as well as some lamps and glass fragments,was in evidence all around the tomb,starting at bedrock level and rising to an

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Fig. 4. East façade with closing slabs in place(Photo I. Zych)

Fig. 5. The western extension to Tomb 30 with surrounding 'bench', view from the south(Photo I. Zych)

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average of 0.20 m in the immediatevicinity of the walls of the tomb. Two earlylamps (first half of 1st century AD) anda small glass bottle plus a fragment of early1st-century glass pillar-moulded bowlwere discovered immediately in front ofthe loculus in the western extension. Infront of the eastern façade, the earliest layerof 'altar-stones' and broken pottery, mainlybottom parts of wine amphorae producedin the Mareotic region (AE3), extended allalong the front of the tomb. The rubblecontained also some fragments of importedvessels originating from Cilicia and/orCyprus ("pinched amphorae") and Crete.Several sherds of omnipresent CypriotSigillata (Hayes form 40) were also re-corded. A second level of 'altars' appeared

at a distance of c. 1.18 m east of the façade,more or less opposite the northernmostloculus of the main part of the tomb andthe first loculus in the northern extension,about 0.33 m above the bedrock in thispart. Two concentrations of burnt stoneswere located, arranged between uprightslabs. The northern one measured ap-proximately 0.30 by 0.40 m and wasringed with unburned limestone rocks, thesouthern one covered an area about 0.70 by0.50 m. A fragment of oil lamp withrosette pattern on the discus was foundwith the northern 'altar'. A third set of'altar' stones, 0.50 by 0.40 m, joined thesecond one just in front of the upright slab.The latest level of 'altar' stones rested nextto the upright slab; traces of burning can

Fig. 6. The discovery of the statue among blocks from the presumed naos superstructure of Tomb 30(Photo I. Zych)

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be seen on its northern face. This level wasabout 0.45-0.50 m above bedrock and layabout 1.80 m east of the northern loculusof the main tomb.

A concentration of broken amphoraelay alongside the southern part of the benchattached to the tomb in the western exten-sion and partly on top of it. The assem-blage comprised mostly vessels that couldbe assigned to the 1st-2nd century AD. Thebulk consisted of containers produced inthe northwest coastal region and Mareotis.Several fragments of Cretan amphorae andpseudo-Koan containers manufactured inCilicia were also present; latest in thisgroup is the neck of a Mareotis amphora of2nd century date. An amphora presumablyof Cypriot origin bore the inscription:XAIPE (?), running in bold red lettersaround the body. From this context cameanother early lamp. Fine tableware wassadly lacking.

FUNERARY STATUE FROM TOMB 30The limestone statue of a woman, whichled to the discovery of Tomb 30, was foundby accident, when the head was noticedsticking out of a trench wall washed awayby winter rains. The head was nestled ina tumble of blocks, which turned out to beoverlying the southern wall of Tomb 30.The head had broken off from the body ofthe statue; the latter was discovereddirectly north of it [Fig. 6]. It is safe toassume that the statue and the presumednaos superstructure in which it had oncestood had been toppled from the top of thecentral loculus of Tomb 30, possibly bygrave robbers who had dug a trench acrossfour of the loculi.

The statue is carved in one block oflimestone. It is 0.708 m together with thebase. The woman is depicted frontally, stan-ding, arms pressed to the sides, swathed ina mantle that reveals part of a simple tunic

with plain neckline underneath [Fig. 7].The right shoulder and small pointedbreast and part of the left breast are visiblewith some traces of blue pigment tosuggest the original painted palette. Theright hand is barely visible above the foldsof a mantle, the left is bent at the elbow tosupport the end of the fabric which passesacross the left shoulder. Both hands werecarved with considerable precision in therendering of the nails. The clenched lefthand and the square hole in its top couldindicate the presence of some object heldin this hand. The vertical and slightlyflaring folds on the front of the body were

Fig. 7. Funerary limestone statue from Tomb 30,after restoration (Photo W.A. Daszewski)

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meant to suggest the figure. The back ispractically plain with barely a hint of themantle.

Contrasting to a degree with the block-like form of the short and squat body is thelong massive neck and disproportionatelybig head of the statue. The face is broadestacross the cheekbones, narrowing to a longtriangular chin. The mouth is small, therelatively thin lips raised at the corners ina hint of smile. The nose is short andstraight, the bottom part of it damaged.The almond-shaped eyes are prominent,between distinctly marked lids that join atboth corners of the eyeball. The long browsfall somewhat at the ends, the right one

visibly higher than the left. The forehead isplain and triangular, and quite high. Thehairdo is plain and smooth with a shortpartition above the forehead and a smallcorkscrew lock in the center. Obviouslythick and bushy, the hair is pulled backsmoothly and gathered together witha strap. Two corkscrew locks of unevenlength descend from behind the ears of thefigure, on either side of the massive neckwith its two discernible fleshy folds. Ineach ear with prominent schematicallyrendered helix and tragus features, there isa round loop earring.

The statue appears to be the product ofa provincial carving workshop from thenorthwestern coast of Egypt (the so-calledLibyan nome).4

GRAVE 15About 0.40 m from the south wall of themain part of Tomb 30, a simple grave wasdiscovered [Fig. 8]. The box superstructureconsisted of a mound of sand mixed withlime debris and potsherds, cased in flatirregular stones, most of which had beendamaged and scattered. The eastern andwestern ends of the grave, 2.10 m apart,were marked by regular slabs, standingupright. The grave itself was a rectangularpit, some 2.00 m long and 0.55 m wide,cut into the bedrock to a depth of 0.55 m.It was covered with four slabs of differentsize and packed in with smaller stonesalong the outside perimeter, indicatingthat a layer of sand at least 15 cm deepexisted around Tomb 30 when this gravewas dug. A concentration of altar-stonesand broken pottery was found immediatelyto the east of the eastern upright slab, evenin level with the first layer of offeringsmade in front of Tomb 30.

4 For other statues, of men, from Marina, see W.A. Daszewski et al., "Excavations at Marina el-Alamein 1987-1988",MDAIK 46 (1990), 29, Fig. 14d,e.

Fig. 8. Grave 15 with Tomb 30 in the back-ground, view from the southwest (Photo W.A. Daszewski)

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5 Cf. PAM XIII, op. cit., 79 and Fig. 5.

Only a small part of a room, probably be-longing to a funerary mausoleum, was un-covered in the course of salvage works car-ried out by inspectors from the EgyptianAntiquities Organization over a decadeago. In the previous season, our attentionwas drawn to the presence of three mosaicemblemata in the floor of this room.5 Thisprompted us to complete the excavation ofthe mausoleum of this hypogeum. Workconcentrated on clearing the abovegroundstructure and tracing the course of thestaircase leading to the underground partof the tomb and the courtyard outline[Fig. 9].

The aboveground mausoleum was clearedof debris and sand, including a few-meterthick layer of modern construction debrisleft by workers developing the tourist areain the past two decades. The ancient struc-ture that was subsequently uncovered ap-pears to be one of the largest and most im-portant tombs discovered in Marina so far.

The mausoleum, which faces north likeall the other tombs of this type on the site,consists of a colonnaded portico precedinga large hall with banquet beds and a set ofrooms of domestic function on either sideof the hall.

The aboveground part of the mauso-leum is 13.10 m long N-S on the westernside and 12.10 m long N-S on the easternside. The total width is 14.35 m (E-W).The structure was entered via a set of sixsteps (2.73 m wide) leading up to theportico, which was situated 1.10 m abovethe ancient ground level [Fig. 11]. Tracesof a gate installed at the top of the stepswere observed (1.88 m wide). A balustradeseems to have run between the columns of

the portico. There were six columns in thefaçade. A narrow test trench dug in front ofthe mausoleum revealed, at a distance ofabout 4-5 m from the structure, the tum-bled remains of the entablature includingtwo courses of stone blocks and the cornicewith dentils, the blocks of the cornice allmarked with stonemason's marks, i.e. Greekletters, on the underside [Fig. 10]. Theblocks were found in order, the façadehaving obviously collapsed in an earth-quake. On the eastern side, between theblocks and the mausoleum, a pseudo-Nabatean capital (of the Marina el-Alameintype) was discovered along with a fewcolumn drums. Presumably, the entireportico, which was 3.78 m deep (N-S), wasconstructed in the same order.

A doorway 2.10 m wide, framed withengaged columns, led from the portico intothe central hall of the mausoleum. Therewere also two lateral entrances on eitherside (0.70 m wide). The banquet hall (6.54m E-W by 7.62 m N-S) was furnishedwith two masonry beds (4.90 m by 1.45-1.48 m; H. 0.60-0.68 m). The paved pas-sage between the couches, where the mosaicemblemata had been discovered, was 2.52 mwide. Narrow passages for servants wereleft behind each of the beds (0.50 m wide).Small lateral entrances (0.88 m wide) ledto two side rooms in the northern part ofthe structure and to a room with a cisternin the southeastern corner (width of thepassage 1.08 m); another doorway (0.88 mwide) in the southwestern corner of the hallgave entrance to the kitchen and latrinecomplex. A passage (1.10 m wide) openedcentrally off the southern wall of thebanquet hall, leading to the staircase that

HYPOGEUM TOMB T21

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Fig. 9. Plan of the investigated parts of hypogeum Tomb 21(Drawing A. B³aszczyk)

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Fig. 11 Façade of the aboveground mausoleum of Tomb 21, view from the north(Photo W.A. Daszewski)

Fig. 10. Cornice blocks of the façade of the mausoleum of Tomb 21. Note pseudo-Nabatean capitalin right foreground (Photo W.A. Daszewski)

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Fig. 12. Cistern and channel in the northeastern room of the mausoleum of Tomb 21(Photo W.A. Daszewski)

Fig. 13. Complex of kitchen, latrine and room in the western part of the mausoleum of Tomb 21,view from the south (Photo W.A. Daszewski)

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descended into the courtyard and burialchambers. Only the upper parts of theperimeter wall have been cleared, givingan estimated size of the courtyard 6.40 m(N-S) by 5.75 m (E-W). Unusually for thiskind of tomb, there were two rooms builtonto the eastern wall of the courtyard, onthe same level as the mausoleum in front(3.10 m wide E-W by 3.50 m and 2.60 mlong respectively N-S). The staircase was14.40 m long and was covered withmonolithic beams of stone (1.30 m long).

The northeastern side room of themausoleum was entered from both thebanquet hall and the portico. The maindoorway, from the portico, had door jambsand was 0.88 m wide. The room measured4.15 m N-S by 3.30 m E-W. The nextroom to the south on this side, enteredonly from the banquet hall, containeda cistern [Fig. 12]. The rectangular head ofthe cistern entrance was constructed ofstone blocks (1.30x1.40 m). A channel ofstone blocks leading from the eastern wallof the mausoleum supplied the cisternwith water, presumably rainfall collectedfrom the roof of the structure. The cisternitself was of irregular plan, extendingabout 4.70-4.90 m west of the shaftentrance and 5.20 m N-S. The shaft was2.20 m deep with a wall of c. 0.50 m risingabove the lime floor in the room. Theknown height of the cistern (which was notfully excavated) is about 2.00 m.

On the opposite side of the mausoleum,the northwestern room, 4.13 m N-S by3.20 m E-W, was entered from the portico(doorway with jambs, 0.88 m wide). A lat-eral doorway in the eastern wall gave accessto the banquet hall. The southwesterncorner of the mausoleum held a complex ofpaved rooms of domestic function, in-cluding a kitchen and latrine. It was en-tered from the banquet hall via a narrowcorridor, 0.80 m wide, which gave access to

a set of stairs [Fig. 13] rising to the north(five steps, 0.67 m wide) and a parallelnarrow passage, 0.68 m wide, off whicha latrine (1.60 m E-W by 2.07 m N-S)opened. The sewage channel ran along thewest wall, 0.40 m wide, sloping down tothe north where an outflow opening waspierced in the outer west wall of the mauso-leum. Opposite the latrine and behind thestone staircase, there were two smallcompartments of unknown function, pos-sibly the substructure of the upper part ofthe flight of steps, which may have been ofwood, leading to a terrace roof.

In the southwestern corner of thecomplex, a kitchen area was separated outwith a partition wall of upright slabs; thisspace, which measured 2.20 m N-S by1.75 m E-W, was not paved and wasentered directly from the corridor. Inside,installations occupied each of the threecorners [Fig. 13]. To the right of theentrance, upright slabs, all 0.50 m high,supported on a flat slab, formed a com-partment 0.30 m wide and 0.50 m long inthe northeastern corner. In the north-western corner, another set of two slabs,0.60 m high, formed a compartment0.70 m long and 0.16 m wide along thenorth wall. Finally, in the corner oppositethe entrance, a column drum and someblocks had been installed. This installation,next to which a concentration of burnedbricks was observed, was 0.30 m wide and0.50 m long, rising 0.30-0.50 m aboveground level. Next to it, the neck of anamphora (of Mareotis type, dated to the2nd-3rd century AD) had been insertedinto the ground as a form of later drain.The assemblage from the kitchen areaconsisted of considerable quantities of pot-tery, both storage amphorae and cookingpots, casseroles with lids, pans and deepplates both Egyptian and imported, datedmostly to the 1st-2nd century AD. Glass

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was also represented, including a perfumebottle (Isings form 6/26a, cf. Goethert-Polaschek form 70a), indented beakers,jugs, and bowls. In the compartment tothe right of the door, a faience plate wasdiscovered, representing a type popular inthe middle of the 1st century AD.

The southwestern part of the mauso-leum appears to have undergone modifica-tions, with stone blocks and lime debris

being used to reinforce the walls, especiallythe southern one, which supported the steps.

Based on current evidence, Tomb 21with its mausoleum appears to have beenconstructed in the 1st century AD. Itseems to have remained in use for abouttwo centuries, after which it was probablyabandoned. Some occupation of ruinedparts of the mausoleum, including thecistern, occurred later in antiquity.

In the town center, where explorations hadbegun in previous campaigns, the fieldworkthis year was concentrated on the extensivesouthern portico and an E-W street withadjoining structures, constituting an ex-tension of this portico to the east [Fig. 14].

SOUTH PORTICOThe South Portico was cleared completely[Figs. 15-17]. It turned out to be 18.50 mlong (E-W) and 8.40 m wide (N-S). Anexedra projected off the middle of the south-ern wall (excavated in previous seasons);6 itwas 2.80 m wide and 2.20 m deep. Liningthe southern wall of the portico togetherwith the exedra and the western wall of theportico there was a limestone benchsupported on lion's paws [Fig. 16]. Theseat was 0.40-0.42 m wide, the legs withseat 0.46 m high. The portico wasfurnished with a double colonnade, eachtract being 3.60 m wide. The columns inthe two rows were of a uniform heightequal to 3.60 m; the bases at the footmeasuring 0.62 m in diameter, the drumsfrom 0.48 to 0.44 m in diameter. Thecolumn capitals represented a simplifiedIonic order. The plaster finishing of these

capitals has survived in good condition,even preserving traces of red and greenpainting in places. The drums were alsogiven a stucco finishing, rendering shallowfluting separated by narrow listels. Thecolumn bases, also plastered, were paintedblack.

The southern portico stopped servingits functions together with the rest of thetown square in the late 5th or early 6thcentury. Numerous traces of fireplacestestified to the continued use of thedilapidated structure by nomads. Theentire architectural order and sumptuousdecoration of the portico can be reconstruc-ted based on the architectural elementsfound in the ruins and the sections ofpainted plaster, including pieces preservingtraces of gilding. Further bits of a marbleplaque with an inscription in Greek wererecovered from the debris in the centralpart of the portico, near the wall withbench. Once these bits were joined to partsdiscovered previously in 2001, the in-scription was read as a simple commem-orative text dedicated to the Romanemperor, either Trajan or Hadrian[Fig.18].7 The assemblage from the portico

FIELDWORK IN THE TOWN CENTER

6 Cf. PAM XIII, op. cit., 81-85. 7 The inscription will be presented separately by Dr. Adam £ajtar of Warsaw University.

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Fig 14. Plan of the ancient town center, state after the season in 2004(Drawing A. B³aszczyk)

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Fig. 16. Toppled columns of the South Portico colonnade. Note ruined bench along the back wall ofthe portico (Photo W.A. Daszewski)

Fig. 15. South Portico, view from the west(Photo W.A. Daszewski)

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Fig. 17. Plan of the South Portico following excavations in 2004, note collapsed wall in south-eastern corner (Drawing A. B³aszczyk)

8 Cf. PAM XII, Reports 2000 (2001), 58-61, Fig. 11.

consisted of fragments of pottery, glassvessels, bronze and iron nails, and threemuch worn bronze coins of the 1st and 2ndcentury AD.

The assortment of sherds from the debrisin the portico area represented variousimported amphorae types: Mauretanian,Pseudo-Koan, Cypriot "pinched amphorae"and some Early Gaza amphorae – predeces-sors of the common LRA 4 type. The as-semblage could be dated to the 3rd centuryat the earliest. In the layers depositedimmediately on the pavement of the por-tico, the assemblage also appeared to bemixed, for it showed very similar cross-section of wares and types. Here againMauretanian amphorae abounded, withsome fragments of "pinched amphorae",

Pseudo-Koan and Cyrenaican. Mareoticvessels (AE3) were also present. A dozen orso fragments of Cypriot Sigillata of 2ndcentury date completed the picture.

STRUCTURES EASTOF THE SOUTH PORTICO

East of the portico excavations continuedto clear a paved street that extended of thecorner of the Town Square [cf. Fig.14], thedepth of overlying deposits reaching evenup to 2.00 m. (Another section of the samestreet had been explored further to the eastof this area in 2000.)8 This street was 3.45 mwide. At the point where it joined theSouth Portico, a branch, which was 3.50 mwide, turned to the south. It has been tracedfor a distance of 14 m.

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Fig. 18. Greek inscription on a marble plaque from the South Portico(Photo W.A. Daszewski)

The street running east was lined onthe north side with a solid wall 0.28 mwide, extending for the entire uncovereddistance of 4.37 m and ending with a door-way that led to a room, which is yet to beexcavated. On the opposite side, the streetwall was 0.61 m wide. A section c. 4.00 mlong has been uncovered to the east and init, 1.70 m away from the corner, a doorway1.00 m wide with a passage through itmeasuring 0.80 m; at the western end, thiswall turned a corner and proceededsouthward for a distance of 4.50 m, thusframing a corner room (No. 1). The roomwas entered from the eastern street via a setof three steps (1.10 m wide including sidewalls) leading down to the main occupa-tional level. The pottery content is largelysimilar to that recorded within the porticoproper. Some earlier examples notwith-standing, the bulk of the material, con-sisting mostly of "pinched amphorae" andCyrenaican and African amphorae, pointsto the 3rd century AD.

Eleven bronze coins were discovered inthe original occupational layer, which wasdeposited directly on a pavement of lime-stone blocks [Fig. 19].9 The assemblagealso included bronze and iron nails, a frag-ment of a bronze finger ring with thegemstone in place, fragments of glass. Thepottery points to an earlier date. Apart fromMareotic amphorae (AE3) and some earlyGazan vessels, a dozen or so fragments ofCypriot Sigillata were recorded, with theever present footed basins/craters (P40) andsmall plates (P-8), all of them dated to thelate 1st-early 2nd century AD.

The room's eastern boundary wall wasfound in the baulk and can be seen asstanding to a height of 1.20 m. The wallon the south was c. 0.60 m wide. The roomwas renovated and reconstructed repeat-edly except for the southeastern cornerwhere shelves constructed of stone slabshad existed from the beginning [Fig. 20].Their function remains unknown. Thelower 'shelf' was c. 0.80 m wide and 0.78 m

9 Thanks are due Assoc. Prof. Barbara Lichocka (Polish Academy of Sciences), who kindly identified the coin.

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Fig. 20. Room with standing stone shelves in the corner, view from the north(Photo W.A. Daszewski)

Fig. 19. Bronze coin minted in Alexandria in the reign of Trajan, AD 110/111, with an imperialquadriga on the reverse (Photo I. Zych)

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high, the upper one c. 0.58 m wide and0.64 m high. The original floor had beenlargely destroyed and covered with fill. Inthe southwestern corner, a fireplace wasintroduced at a level 0.10 m higher up.A vessel was dug into the fill next to thefireplace. This layer bore traces of burningthroughout the room, indicating that ithad been used as a kitchen at this point.Pottery in quantities and animal bones alsoconfirm the room's function. A later floorwas observed in the southern part of theroom, 0.40 m higher up. A smaller unit,1.10 m long (N-S) and at least 2.10 mwide (E-W), seems to have been intro-duced through the erection of a poorlyconstructed partition wall.

South of the corner room discussedabove, another room (no. 2) could be dis-cerned, measuring 1.30 m (N-S) by 3.12 m(E-W). The pavement here was well madeof rectangular slabs (0.60 m x 0.30 m,others 0.36 m x 0.30 m; 0.50 x 0.46 m).A channel (0.20 x 0.20 m) was traced underthe pavement in the northern part. Re-mains of wall plastering were observed inthe bottom part of the walls, rising toa height of 0.20 m. On the west, this roomis shut off with a wall 1.30 m long, piercedby a doorway (0.70 m wide) in the middle. The wall delimiting unit no. 2 on thesouth is preserved to a height of 1.10 m onthe side of this room. On the other side, it

drops down to 1.70 m. The room south ofthis wall (no. 3) was only partly excavatedthis season, but already two occupationallevels were clearly distinguished. On thewest, the bordering wall has a doorwayopening into the N-S street at this point.Inside the room, on the higher occupationallevel, two rectangular stone blocks withholes for vertical wooden beams werefound (presumably roof or ceiling supports?). The assemblage from the two roomsincluded sherds of utilitarian wares: a fewKapitan II, and the usual share of Mareotic(AE3) and Nile silt amphorae, usuallydated to the 2nd century AD, as well asEarly Gazan vessels, accompanied byfragments of Cypriot Sigillata basins (P40)and dishes (P8). The datable materialcould be ascribed to the late 1st-2ndcentury AD. There were also some minorglass fragments, as well as a number of ironand bronze nails, and a few terracotta oillamp fragments.

The fill overlying the ruins of this roomconsisted of a thick layer of stone blocksand wall plastering from the eastern wall ofa basilical structure situated just south ofthe South Portico of the Town Square.10

Overall, the oldest occupational level inthis part of the ancient town originatedfrom the 1st century AD. The later floorswere introduced at a much later date, pre-sumably in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD.

10 Cf. W.A. Daszewski, "Témoignage de l'urbanisation de la côméditerranéenne de l'Égypte a l'époque hellénistique etromaine a la lumiere des fouilles de Marina el-Alamein", BSFE 132 (1995), 19-20.

marina el-alamein excavation report 2004, pam 16, 2005

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