Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (12.2000(2001))

EL DABhA ENVIRONS

EGYPT

15. Stamped Rhodian amphora handle,
probably 2nd century BC;
16. Bottom of amphora of Tripolitana II
type, lst-2nd century AD (Fig. 2:16).
Taking into account all the reservations,
which draw from the limited nature of the
visit and the modest size of the pottery
sample, it should be noted that the
potsherds found all over the koms are
remarkably homogeneous. They consist-
ently refer to a chronological horizon of the
Late Hellenistic period and the 1st and
2nd century AD. Many of the sherds
investigated in situ appear to represent

local production, originating from the
Mareotis and the northwestern coastal
region, including the neighboring El Dabra
area where, in antiquity, there had existed
important pottery workshops.3) Except for
the Rhodian piece, the amphorae appear to
be slightly later, which may of course be
due to the unrepresentative character of the
sample.
An overall date to the Middle-Late
Hellenistic and Early Imperial period is
also borne out by two bronze coins, surface
finds, both very corroded, but recognizable
as (Late) Ptolemaic issues.

REMARKS ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SITE

It is a matter of course that any reliable
identification of the settlement is pending
further investigation and successful
excavation of the site. At present, however,
it is possible to make the following remarks
on the ground of the observations and
suggestions proposed by modern travelers
and the descriptions referring to this part of
the coast found in the ancient sources.
The settlement in question is located
some six to seven kilometers to the
northwest of the modern town of el Dabra,
but a bit closer to the promontory of the
same name. Ancient sources mention
towns, villages and characteristic topo-
graphic features off and along the coast.
They usually favor the most important
places, such as, for example, the towns of
Catabathmus (=Solium) or Paraetonium

(=Marsa Matruh). Some sources, however,
are more detailed, notably, Strabo (late 1st
century BC); Claudius Ptolemeus
( = Ptolemy, mid 2nd century AD);
Stadiasmus (handbook for sailors navigating
along the coast, probably late 3rd century
AD); Antonine Itinerary (Diocletianic
period, but probably going back to the
time of Caracalla); and Tabula Peutingeriana
(medieval copy of a 2nd-3rd century map,
probably altered in the 4th century AD).4)
They all enumerate smaller settlements,
harbors and villages, road posts and
promontories, and often give distances
from harbor to harbor or anchorage, or
promontory.
At a distance of about 6 km to the east
of the settlement of our interest, there is
the promontory of Ras ad Dabfa. Following

3) Cf. G. Majcherek, “Tell el-Haraby. A newly discovered kiln-sice”, BCE XV (1991), 5-7; also, id., and A. el Shennawy,
“Research on Amphorae Production on the North-Western Coast of Egypt”, CCE 3 (1992), 129-136.
4) Strabo 17,1,14; Claudi Ptolemaei, Geographic) IV, 5- 9, ed. A. Noble (Leipzig 1843-1845; repr. G. Olms, Hildesheim
1966); Stadiasmus (sive Periplus Maris Magni), cf. C. Muller, Geographi greet minores I, 429-438; Itinerarium Provinciarum
Antonini Augusti, cf. O. Parthey, M. Pinder, Itinerarium Antonini Augusti (Berlin 1848); Tabula Peutingeriana, cf. K. Miller,
Die Peutingerische Tafel (1887; repr. 1961); also id., Itineraria Romana: romische Reisewege an der Hand der Tabula
Peutingeriana ( Stuttgart 1916; repr. 1963). For a discussion of ancient sources and observations by modern travelers, cf.
W.A. Daszewski et ah, “Excavations at Marina el-Alamein 1987-1988", MDAIK 46 (1990), 16-17.

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