Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (15.2003(2004))

NAQLUN

EGYPT

Undoubtedly the most popular bond in
the local architecture (especially in
Building G) was that which consisted of
alternating courses of headers on edge
followed by stretchers. Walls in this bond
were usually 47-50 cm wide, i.e. two brick
lengths {Fig. 2.F). In plan,20) the headers-
on-edge course consisted of two rows of
headers set on edge, separated by a mortar
core, and the stretcher course of two rows
of stretchers with a header in between and
a mortar core.21-1
Walls built in this bond could have been
deprived of the mortar layer in the core in
particular courses, e.g. west wall of corridor
G. 1 (only 45 cm thick) and the west wall of
the mausoleum (48-49 cm thick). Thicker
walls (52-57 cm) erected in this bond could
have instead of the mortar in the core either
a stretcher set on edge (in the headers-on-
edge course) or a filling of mortar and
crushed brick (in the stretcher course).22)
In walls made of alternating courses of
headers on edge and stretchers, as a rule
a different bond was observed at the two
ends. This bond was based for the most part
on courses of headers and stretchers in
different arrangements (cf. Fig. 2.F).23) To
protect the wall corners from damage, the
ends of walls were rounded sometimes (e.g.
north end of east wall of corridor G.l, cf.
Fig. 2.F).

The bonds applied for the thinner walls
were also based on alternating courses of
headers on edge and stretchers. The west
wail of room G.ll, which measured some
35 cm in thickness (one-and-half brick
length), consisted of courses of headers on
edge alternating with double courses of
stretchers {Fig. 2.G).
Entirely unique brickwork was re-
corded in a 40-cm thick wall (one-and-half
brick length with a mortar band at the core
added) separating rooms G.6 and G.7
{Fig. 2.H). The northern face of this wall
was made up of alternating layers of
headers and stretchers, the latter set on
edge,24-* while the southern face consisted
of alternating courses of stretchers and
headers, this time the headers set on edge.
The older and sounder walls were
founded directly on bedrock. The walls of
Building AA.30.1-3 were erected in this
manner25) as was also the south wall of
room G.2. Younger walls were raised on
beaten ground, occasionally mixed with
animal dung {sebakh). In every kind of
bondwork the foundations consisted most
often of a course of headers set on edge.26)
The similarity to brick building of
Pharaonic times is striking.27) Another
similarity to earlier periods is the rarer
occurrence of foundations based on a course
of headers.28)

20) The terminology used to describe the horizontal arrangement of particular courses is the same as if courses visible in
the face of the wall were being described.
21) The longer section of the east wall of corridor G.l and the north and west walls of room G.4 were erected in this manner.
22) As in the west wall of room G.6, the west walls of rooms G.5 and G.7 and in the wall separating G.8 from the street
between Building G and D.
23) East wall of corridor G.l, west wall of room G.6, west wall of room G.4.
24) Similar bondwork can be seen on a fragment of the east wall of room G.7, the sole difference being that the header courses
here were replaced with stretchers.
25) Godlewski, PAM XII, op. cit, 151; id., PAM XIII, op. cit, 161.
26) The headers set on edge were usually more or less inclined (even passing into headers occasionally), the reason being the
need to level the ground for given walls, like in the case of the walls between rooms G.6 and G.7, G.7 and G.8, G.8 and the
street, as well as all the walls of the mausoleum.
27) Cf. Spencer, op. cit., 120.
28) Erected on either one or two courses of headers were the south and east walls of room D.8 and the west wall of corridor G.l.

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