Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (14.2002(2003))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

stones running in a generally northwestern
direction. A late wall of blocks mounted on
sand extended generally eastward into the
square. Between the room with pedestal
and this wall traces of a late occupational
level were observed some 0.65 m above the
general level of the square (Fig. 19). The
builders of this level had laid large regular
slabs and smaller pebbles indiscriminately
in a 30-40 cm thick bedding of rubble and
sand, the general objective being to level
the area. The evidence of pottery finds
suggests a date even in the 5 th century for
this occupation. From this layer comes
a damaged pendant carved of bone in the
shape of a crouching rabbit (?).
Further clearing of the area north of the
room with statue base brought to light
a paved passage (street ?) 4 m wide, limited
on either side (north and south) by walls of

stone blocks (Figs. 14,19). This season the
passage was pursued west for a distance of
some 10 m. Along the entire length of this
passage (street), about 0.90 m away from
the north wall, a serious dislocation fissure
can be seen. This part of the pavement
obviously subsided early on in the usage of
the complex, possibly even in the late 2nd
or 3rd century AD, as did presumably the
entire northwestern part of the architecture
encircling the square. The ancient
inhabitants of this town filled the
dislocation with a 5-to-30 cm thick layer
of mortar, thus creating a fairly even, if
somewhat sloping level (at the deepest
point the dislocation is 0.5 m below the
level of the paving in the passage).
The north wall delimiting this passage
was preserved to a height of ca. 0.80 m
(flush with the late level) and it presents


Fig. 19- Main square. West passage and the north delimiting wall. Accumulated layers above the sub-
sided part of the pavement, including a late 5th-century level on top (Photo W.A. Daszewski)

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