Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (14.2002(2003))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

TOWN CENTRE

In the town center, where excavations in
the previous two seasons had started
uncovering the main square paved with
flagstones,9) work now concentrated in
three areas: the southeastern corner of the
porticoes, the area behind the back wall of
the eastern portico and the area in the west
end of the square (Figs. 14,15; cf. also 20).
In the corner where the southern and
eastern porticoes meet, at the east end of the
south portico, excavations uncovered a fallen
wall of dressed limestone blocks, obviously
toppled in consequence of a heavy
earthquake (Fig. 16). Many of these blocks
still guarded fairly regular rows and
reciprocal connections. They were cleared of
sand and left in situ, ready for anastylosis.
Two Ionic columns were found among the
blocks, the shafts still bearing large sections
of lime plaster with regular fluting — narrow
listels separating the convex flutes (Fig. 17).
(The same type of plaster finishing had been
observed upon the columns of the east
portico uncovered the year before. The
capitals revealed minute traces of paint
surviving upon the volutes. There is no
doubt that the blocks had once formed part
of a wall delimiting this section of the
portico on the southeast. The structure,
which this wall could have belonged to,
remains outside the trench limits for now.
The pavement in this section was
uncovered for a distance of about 5 m and
a width of 4 m. Regular rows of flagstones
(on average size: 0.52 x 0.30 m; 0.40 x
0.29 m; 0.70 x 0.31 m, etc.) were arranged
longitudinally. Cutting across the corner at
an angle, from southwest to northeast, was
a course of single slabs (0.70 x 0.34; 0.50 x
0.35 m on average). This was likely the
covering of a canal.

In the area behind the back wall of the
east portico a large structure paved with
flagstones was identified (cf. Figs. 14,15).
The excavated section, including the area
uncovered in the previous season, now
measures 12.30 m (E-W) and at least 12 m
(N-S) (the eastern and southern extremities
have yet to be investigated). The structure
may have been entered from the eastern
portico, although all traces of an entrance
seem to have been destroyed. The
surviving section of the back wall of the
portico is identical in construction with
the wall delimiting the structure on the
north. This latter wall has been uncovered
along a distance of 12 m and apparently
continues further eastward. It was made of
regular blocks of limestone, all 0.28 m
wide, their length being on average
c. 0.55; 0.50; 0.60 m etc.; it now stands no
higher than c. 0.60 m. Inside the structure
a low stylobate, 0.60 m wide, running
parallel to the north wall created a portico
1.90 m wide. A row of columns oriented
E-W was set up on this stylobate. With
four columns of this row already
discovered, it can be said that the average
diameter of the column is 0.40 m and the
space between each two columns measures
2.20 m. Another row of columns sided the
west end of this structure; two columns
have been preserved (including the corner
one), spaced 2.15 m, standing 2.25 m away
from the back wall of the portico. There
may have been two more columns in this
row. Taken together, these two rows appear
to have once formed part of a large
peristyle court. A third portico lining the
southern side of the structure is likely, but
further explorations are necessary to prove
this. Blocks of the portico architrave, once

9) For the previous work in this area, see W.A. Daszewski, PAM XIII, op. cit., 81-86.

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