DOI issue:
Egypt
DOI article:Majcherek, Grzegorz: Kom el-Dikka: excavations, 1998/99
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41274#0034
ALEXANDRIA
EGYPT
the tombs M 252 and M 255 (cf. Fig. 1).
There is a distinct possibility that other
columns can still be found sub situ.
EARLY ROMAN HOUSE
Following the removal of the Medieval
strata, the team focused on exploring the
Early Roman layers sealed below the
paving. A small section in the southern
part of this sector had been excavated in
1994 with encouraging results.
Surprisingly well preserved remains of
what appears to be a large Early Roman
house were cleared at the time. The exist-
ing ruins comprised a large sumptuously
decorated hall (Fig. 5:3). The interior dec-
oration comprised pairs of engaged
columns placed along the walls and similar
twin engaged-columns posted in the cor-
ners opposite the entrance, giving the
overall impression of a pseudo-peristyle
arrangement. The floor of the hall was dec-
orated with a mosaic-like pavement made
of multicolored marble tiles arranged in
a geometrical pattern giving the general
effect of an U+T design, suggestive of a tri-
clinium. The adjacent courtyard apparently
served some religious purposes, as evi-
denced by several ex-vota found there.
Present investigations led to the com-
plete clearing of four rooms and a court-
yard. The western fragment of the build-
ing unearthed this season served essential-
ly household purposes. All the explored
rooms were rather small in size. Their
western ends had been either destroyed by
the portico stylobate or extend further
west, well beyond the extent of the present
excavations.
Immediately to the north of a well pre-
served staircase (cf. Fig. 5:4), a small latrine
was excavated (cf. Fig. 5:7). Its northern
wall, where the entrance was located, is
almost entirely destroyed save for a clearly
visible threshold and door-sockets. The
settling tank could not be excavated in its
entirety for safety reasons, but it obviously
extends well under the staircase. A big ver-
tical pipe of pierced monolithic blocks was
installed in the corner of the latrine. It was
obviously used to drain sewage water from
the upper floor sanitary installations.
The adjoining room no. 8 (2.35 x 3-00 m)
apparently served as a lavatory. A small
water tank (1.75 x 1.1 m) was cleared next
to its northern wall. The walls of the tank
were lined with bricks on the inside and
coated with waterproof mortar. The bot-
tom of the tank was raised some 0.90 m
above the floor level to allow for unimped-
ed water flow. In the northeastern corner of
the room, there was a small outlet with ter-
racotta pipes that drained waste water to
the underground settling tank of the
latrine located under room no. 7.
The layer found directly on the floor
surface produced very little datable finds.
The limited ceramic material from this
layer represents mainly local vessels, usual-
ly dated to the 3rd-4th century AD. The
entire floor of the room was originally
paved with small multicolored marble
tiles, of which some fragments were still
preserved close to the latrine entrance.
A similar pavement was also discovered
in the bigger next-door room no. 10
(Fig. 5:10). This room has not been fully
excavated as yet, hence neither its dimen-
sions nor function may be determined.
The entire western wing was separated
from the rest of the building by a wall pre-
served to a considerable height of about
4) G. Majcherek, PAM VI, Reports 1994 (1995), 11-20
32
EGYPT
the tombs M 252 and M 255 (cf. Fig. 1).
There is a distinct possibility that other
columns can still be found sub situ.
EARLY ROMAN HOUSE
Following the removal of the Medieval
strata, the team focused on exploring the
Early Roman layers sealed below the
paving. A small section in the southern
part of this sector had been excavated in
1994 with encouraging results.
Surprisingly well preserved remains of
what appears to be a large Early Roman
house were cleared at the time. The exist-
ing ruins comprised a large sumptuously
decorated hall (Fig. 5:3). The interior dec-
oration comprised pairs of engaged
columns placed along the walls and similar
twin engaged-columns posted in the cor-
ners opposite the entrance, giving the
overall impression of a pseudo-peristyle
arrangement. The floor of the hall was dec-
orated with a mosaic-like pavement made
of multicolored marble tiles arranged in
a geometrical pattern giving the general
effect of an U+T design, suggestive of a tri-
clinium. The adjacent courtyard apparently
served some religious purposes, as evi-
denced by several ex-vota found there.
Present investigations led to the com-
plete clearing of four rooms and a court-
yard. The western fragment of the build-
ing unearthed this season served essential-
ly household purposes. All the explored
rooms were rather small in size. Their
western ends had been either destroyed by
the portico stylobate or extend further
west, well beyond the extent of the present
excavations.
Immediately to the north of a well pre-
served staircase (cf. Fig. 5:4), a small latrine
was excavated (cf. Fig. 5:7). Its northern
wall, where the entrance was located, is
almost entirely destroyed save for a clearly
visible threshold and door-sockets. The
settling tank could not be excavated in its
entirety for safety reasons, but it obviously
extends well under the staircase. A big ver-
tical pipe of pierced monolithic blocks was
installed in the corner of the latrine. It was
obviously used to drain sewage water from
the upper floor sanitary installations.
The adjoining room no. 8 (2.35 x 3-00 m)
apparently served as a lavatory. A small
water tank (1.75 x 1.1 m) was cleared next
to its northern wall. The walls of the tank
were lined with bricks on the inside and
coated with waterproof mortar. The bot-
tom of the tank was raised some 0.90 m
above the floor level to allow for unimped-
ed water flow. In the northeastern corner of
the room, there was a small outlet with ter-
racotta pipes that drained waste water to
the underground settling tank of the
latrine located under room no. 7.
The layer found directly on the floor
surface produced very little datable finds.
The limited ceramic material from this
layer represents mainly local vessels, usual-
ly dated to the 3rd-4th century AD. The
entire floor of the room was originally
paved with small multicolored marble
tiles, of which some fragments were still
preserved close to the latrine entrance.
A similar pavement was also discovered
in the bigger next-door room no. 10
(Fig. 5:10). This room has not been fully
excavated as yet, hence neither its dimen-
sions nor function may be determined.
The entire western wing was separated
from the rest of the building by a wall pre-
served to a considerable height of about
4) G. Majcherek, PAM VI, Reports 1994 (1995), 11-20
32