Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

the structure is now quite clear. The house
is not connected with any other building
in the quarter except for the hall to the
north of it and even with it there is no
direct connection. This hall (H 21c“N”)
lies on a level 1.30 m lower than H 21c; it
measures 10.45 by 7.50 m (cf. Figs. 7, 9).
Like the house, it, too, must have served
some other than residential purposes.
Visually, the hall does not interfere with
the architectural homogeneity of the
complex; hence, it will be included in the
restoration program.
All the walls of the building are of
single-block thickness, employing regular
blocks measuring 30 x 30 x 45 cm — 35 x
35 x 60 cm. A thick layer of burning,
including charred pieces of roof beams,
recorded in several of the chambers, adds to

the already collected evidence for a cata-
clysmic destruction of the area by fire.
BUILDING CONSERVATION
1. Houses H 10-H lOa-H 10b. Apart
from replacing joint fillers in a few places,
the main task of the season was to
complete the reconstruction of missing
elements of the tympanum above the niche
in room 2, this having survived only in
60%.3) The last of the six required
elements was now put into place.
2. House H 10“E”. Some building
conservation work was carried out on the
outer northern and western walls, and the
entrance to room 11 on the north, as well
as the partition walls in order to clarify
their course and raise them in height to an
average 1.20 m. The partial restoration of


Fig. 4- House H 19- View from the northwest, state after the 2001 season
(Photo S. Medeksza)

3) Method based on R. Czerner's drawing reconstruction, prepared and applied by stone restorer P. Zambrzycki.
Cf. S. Medeksza, PAM XI, Reports 1999 (2000), Figs. 5, 6.

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