DOI issue:
Egypt
DOI article:Daszewski, Wiktor Andrzej: Marina el-Alamein: season 2000
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41368#0055
MARINA EL-ALAMEIN
EGYPT
four in two superimposed rows, and what
the top of the tomb had looked like. In its
present state of preservation, it is
impossible to ascribe the tomb securely to
any particular type. It might have been
similar to T 4 with four loculi or was
decorated with an upper (pillar-like?)
structure.8) No trace of either have been
found. One thing that is certain, however,
is that there must have been some kind of
superstructure (more loculi ?) on top. For
one thing, the blocks covering the
northern loculus did not ensure sufficient
protection to the corpses inside, not having
been fitted very well. And another thing,
the lateral walls of the structure projected
18-20 cm above the level of these blocks.
Only the southern loculus was
explored. It was found to contain two
skeletons, one of a woman, aged 25-30, the
other of a child, 4-6 years old. No grave
goods accompanied the bones.
However, amphorae and tableware
sherds, as well as some glass and lamp
fragments were scattered all around the
tomb, mostly in a layer of sand rising some
30-40 cm above bedrock. The concen-
tration of broken pottery, especially of
storage vessels, was the biggest around two
fairly irregular altar-like structures made of
flat slabs of limestone, some 0.80 m east of
the tomb facade (cf. Fig. 5). One such altar
was found in front of the central part of the
tomb at a level corresponding with its floor,
the other one, 15 cm higher up, in front of
the southern loculus. Traces of burning
marked the stones, and ashes were scattered
all around. Further traces of burning were
found directly upon bedrock, i.e., the level
upon which the tomb had been erected.
From this level comes the bottom part of
a Cypriot Sigillata plate form P.12 of the
late 1 st-early 2nd cent. AD, and a lamp of
the same date (Fig. 6) recovered in pieces
but mended to reveal a fine discus
decoration in the shape of an oak-leaf and
acorns wreath. In the sand fill above,
tableware was represented by an ESA plate
of the early 1st cent. AD. In the higher
parts of the fill, many fragments of
amphorae of the 2nd and 3rd cent., mostly
Mareotis AE 3 and AE 4, were found all
around the tomb. Other amphorae types
included Gaza (Ashkelon), Knidos, and
a few sherds of Mau 27/28. It may well be
that the tomb originated from the period
indicated by the early ceramic finds, but
remained in use for quite some time. This
is clearly indicated by the second altar
erected at a higher level, when the first one,
standing almost upon bedrock, had already
been covered with windblown sand.
Fig. 6. Oil lamp from the vicinity of Tomb 21
(Drawing I. Zych, inking M. Smola)
8) Tomb 4, however, had a temenos wall surrounding the box with locuii, cf. Daszewski, MDAIK 46, op. cit., 30, pi.
15, h.
53
EGYPT
four in two superimposed rows, and what
the top of the tomb had looked like. In its
present state of preservation, it is
impossible to ascribe the tomb securely to
any particular type. It might have been
similar to T 4 with four loculi or was
decorated with an upper (pillar-like?)
structure.8) No trace of either have been
found. One thing that is certain, however,
is that there must have been some kind of
superstructure (more loculi ?) on top. For
one thing, the blocks covering the
northern loculus did not ensure sufficient
protection to the corpses inside, not having
been fitted very well. And another thing,
the lateral walls of the structure projected
18-20 cm above the level of these blocks.
Only the southern loculus was
explored. It was found to contain two
skeletons, one of a woman, aged 25-30, the
other of a child, 4-6 years old. No grave
goods accompanied the bones.
However, amphorae and tableware
sherds, as well as some glass and lamp
fragments were scattered all around the
tomb, mostly in a layer of sand rising some
30-40 cm above bedrock. The concen-
tration of broken pottery, especially of
storage vessels, was the biggest around two
fairly irregular altar-like structures made of
flat slabs of limestone, some 0.80 m east of
the tomb facade (cf. Fig. 5). One such altar
was found in front of the central part of the
tomb at a level corresponding with its floor,
the other one, 15 cm higher up, in front of
the southern loculus. Traces of burning
marked the stones, and ashes were scattered
all around. Further traces of burning were
found directly upon bedrock, i.e., the level
upon which the tomb had been erected.
From this level comes the bottom part of
a Cypriot Sigillata plate form P.12 of the
late 1 st-early 2nd cent. AD, and a lamp of
the same date (Fig. 6) recovered in pieces
but mended to reveal a fine discus
decoration in the shape of an oak-leaf and
acorns wreath. In the sand fill above,
tableware was represented by an ESA plate
of the early 1st cent. AD. In the higher
parts of the fill, many fragments of
amphorae of the 2nd and 3rd cent., mostly
Mareotis AE 3 and AE 4, were found all
around the tomb. Other amphorae types
included Gaza (Ashkelon), Knidos, and
a few sherds of Mau 27/28. It may well be
that the tomb originated from the period
indicated by the early ceramic finds, but
remained in use for quite some time. This
is clearly indicated by the second altar
erected at a higher level, when the first one,
standing almost upon bedrock, had already
been covered with windblown sand.
Fig. 6. Oil lamp from the vicinity of Tomb 21
(Drawing I. Zych, inking M. Smola)
8) Tomb 4, however, had a temenos wall surrounding the box with locuii, cf. Daszewski, MDAIK 46, op. cit., 30, pi.
15, h.
53