Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (14.2002(2003))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

The back wall of the east portico runs
another 4.15 m to the north, encompassing
a doorway measuring some 1.40 m in
width. This is a mirror reflection of the
wall and doorway discovered during the
previous season immediately south of the
presumed south corner of the colonnaded
court (?). More indented glass beakers of
the same kind as those found in the court
were found under the collapsed blocks of
the northern doorway.
Over on the western side of the main
square, explorations continued in a broad
sweep from the southwestern corner to
a late E-W wall that had been observed in
the northern part of the square during
earlier work.10)
In the southwestern corner of this area,
a large room, the eastern wall of which had

been uncovered last year, was now cleared in
its entirety (Fig. 18, cf. also 14,13). It meas-
ured 4.12 m (N-S) by 3.30 m (E-W) and
was elevated c. 0.45 m with respect to the
pavement of the main square. A set of three
low steps situated slightly off axis in the east
wall of the room ascended to the floor level.
The walls of the room were preserved to the
height of just one course of stone blocks
(H. 0.37 m). Abutting the rear (west) wall
of the room was a pedestal (L. 0.54;
W. 0.52; H. 0.29 m) consisting of two large
blocks. It may have been used as a statue
base and the room itself could have served
the purposes of veneration (sanctuary ?).
Further clearing of the pavement of the
square to the north and west revealed
intact flagging with obvious evidence of
seismic-related dislocation of the flag-


Fig. 18. Main square. Southwestern room with base (sanctuary ?); note the seismic-related
dislocation of the flagstones running across the square (Photo W.A. Daszewski)
10) Ibid., 86.

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