Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (15.2003(2004))

NAQLUN

EGYPT

BRICKS AND BRICK BONDING IN THE
MONASTIC ARCHITECTURE ON KOM A
IN NAQLUN

Szymon Maslak

The richness of mud-brick architecture
explored over the years at Naqlun
prompted the preparation, in 2003, of
a corpus of brickwork bonding and
building materials based on the domestic
and residential architecture currently
under exploration in sector A. Building G
was analyzed for this purpose and, to
broaden the base for analysis, also the walls
of structures east and south of the church,
AE.l and AS. 1-3 (mausoleum included)
respectively, were investigated (for the
situation on the site map of these
structures, cf. Fig. 5 on p. 146 above).
These structures are all contemporary and

dated with considerable probability to the
end of the 10th century.1) The walls of the
oldest part of the monastic complex,
AA.30.1-3, were also included in the study
in view of the presence of many typical
features. This architecture, excavated in
2000 and 2001,2) 3 is dated to the same
period as the keep (Building A in the early
phase), that is, to the 6th century.31
Unfortunately, most of the walls
analyzed for the purpose of the corpus were
not preserved in full height, thus
hindering proper interpretation.4 5) For
objective reasons, some of the walls were
analyzed only in part.

THE BRICKS

Building AA.30.1-3 was erected of two
kinds of mud brick,51 both dark gray in
color. The bigger kind (32x16x12 cm)
had small quantities of gravel added to it.
Smaller bricks (24-25 x 11-12 x 6-8 cm)
were produced with large amounts of
chopped straw as temper. The dark gray
mud bricks from Building G also contained
varying quantities of vegetal temper.

Exceptional amounts of chopped straw, or
else chopped straw and gravel, were added
to the mud brick used in the construction
of walls in room AE.l and in the
mausoleum. The mud used for bricks in
the south and east walls of room D.8 is
light gray (also with chopped straw
added). The size of the bricks from
Building G, room AE.l, the mausoleum

1) Cf. W. Godlewski, PAM XIV, Reports 2002 (2003), 164-165, Fig. 1.
2) W. Godlewski, PAM XII, Reports 2000 (2001), 150-154; id., PAM XIII, Reports 2001 (2002), 160-166.
3) Cf. W. Godlewski, PAM XI, Reports 1999 (2000), 130; id., PAM XII, op. cit„ 150-151.
4) The study concentrated on structural walls, important from the point of view of architectural planning, to the exclusion
of obviously second-rate walls and walls too damaged for interpretation.
5) Cf. Godlewski, PAM XIII, op. cit, 161-162.

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