Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (10.1998(1999))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

table (?). In between the blocks, a rectan-
gular stone container (0.46 m long, 0.26 m
wide, 0.12 m high) was discovered. Yet
another similar but slightly less deep con-
tainer was found near the entrance to the
funerary chamber. Similar containers were
previously found in several other hypogea
in Marina. They recall such containers used
as flower pots and represented on some
Roman mosaics.8) Just inside the entrance
to the chamber and to the right a shallow
cavity cut in the floor was used as a stand
for amphorae.
To judge from the pottery assemblage,
Tomb 18, like most of the other hypogea,
had been erected in the course of the 1st
cent. AD, possibly in the second half of the
century. This confirms our earlier observa-
tions that the apogeum of the ancient
town, to which this necropolis belongs,
should be placed in the 1st and 2nd cent.
AD. However, most of the large hypogea
appear to have stayed in use well into the
3rd cent, and perhaps later.
In many of the loculi in Tomb 18, as
was also the case in other tombs, burials
from different periods were found side by
side. Usually, the early (primary) burials
had been pushed aside pell-mell to make
place for successive burials. It seems that
the tombs were used as burial places for
a least two, but probably more generations.
One should distinguish, however, between
the use of the tombs for burial and as
places for commemoration of the dead
ancestors. Ample evidence has been found
of offerings having been made for extended
periods of time, even once the under-
ground part of the tomb had already been
filled with sand, making new burials
extremely difficult if not impossible.
When the principal altar in the middle of

the court had disappeared under a layer of
sand, flat stones were laid above it in the
same position and offerings continued to
be made in the place. This process of
adding new "altars" at a higher level was
repeated a number of times. Traces of other
types of offerings, such as fragmentary or
complete amphorae with dedicatory
inscriptions, were found in the sand fill of
the court on different levels.
The small finds from Tomb 18, aside
from what has been described above, con-
sisted of three small lamps of early 2 nd-
cent. AD types, found in the sand fill of
the chamber, and of two very large lamps
of the 1st cent. AD - one with twin noz-
zles and decorated with a bust of Apollo
on the handle — both placed on the para-
pet of the west window opening. In the
sand fill by the south wall of the chamber,
some 50 cm above the bedrock floor,
a piriform jug of Cypriot sigillata was also
found.
Other work at the site, in addition to
the excavations in Tombs 6, 8 and 18,
included the removal of sand, which the
recent heavy winter rains had brought into
some of the earlier investigated tombs,
and of digging drains to prevent water
from penetrating into the tombs in the
future.
Documentation of decorated architec-
tural elements found during rescue excava-
tions in houses of the ancient town was also
continued. Of special interest was
a Corinthian capital of Early Roman date
from House no. 31 in the northwestern
part of the town near the lagoon. The cap-
ital was made of three plain limestone
drums set one upon another and decorated
on the outside with acanthus leaves,
volutes and rosettes molded in stucco and

8) Cf. W. A. Daszewski, Dionysos der Erloser (Mainz 1985), Taf. 4 and 18, and Abb. 3.

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