Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

NAQLUN

EGYPT

designed to ascertain the boundaries of the
extended monastic compound. It was
determined that the architectural remains
(AA.50) cover an area up to 11 m away
from Building AA.30 and are hardly
homogeneous. Two or even three stages of
the development are easily recognizable
here.
In the central part, the tops of the walls
of a small room (AA.50.1), measuring 2.40
x 2.00-2.50 m, were uncovered. To judge
by the substantial quantity of disturbed

bones found within the confines of this
structure, it must have been a kind of
mausoleum used in the Fatimid period,
built on top of the earlier monastic
architecture.
Numerous traces of fire on the walls of
these western rooms, as well as the
characteristic fill, indicate that this part of
the complex was also destroyed in
a catastrophic conflagration. Once further
tombs were identified, the work had to be
interrupted.

CEMETERY A

Although the chief effort in the past season
was concentrated on monastic architecture
within the confines of a trench where
a cemetery of the Fatimid period had

already been explored and removed in
2000,4) another eleven tombs were exca-
vated in the area of room AA.30.3 and the
trench between Building AA.30 and


Fig. 9. Piece of decorated burial shroud from Cemetery C (Nd.01266)
(Photo W. Godlewski)

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