Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

ALEXANDRIA

EGYPT

preserved only in the central part of the area,
in other locations it had been apparently
removed leaving a rubble substructure. The
paving rises some 1.20 m above the level
of the portico flagging and can hardly be
linked to the latest phase of the bath. Pre-

liminary dating based on the available
material (pottery and lamp fragments) col-
lected from the layer lying directly on top
of the paving, points to the 7th century.
Detailed dating should be possible upon
examination of the underlying strata.

CONSERVATION

In keeping with the ongoing restoration
program, conservation work was carried
out concurrently on various monuments at
the site.
THEATER PORTICO
The anastylosis of the portico was the most
important operation undertaken this season.
Two recent field campaigns resulted in the
clearing of c. 40 m of the portico.8 Four
toppled and broken granite columns were
found lying immediately on top of the
extant pavement of the portico {Fig. 7 top].
Since the adjacent section of the portico
stylobate was found to be quite well pres-
erved with only some minor reparation
needed, it was decided to proceed with the
raising of the columns to their respective
original positions [Fig. 7 bottom}. All the
original marble bases were missing, so
limestone replacements had to be manu-
factured. One of the columns, however,
turned out to be shorter than the others;
originally, it must have stood on a low
pedestal to compensate for the missing
height. A pedestal of two large blocks was
constructed to accommodate it. The land
configuration and easy access to the area in
question allowed the lifting operation to
be carried out using a crane instead of the
traditional tripod and pulley device.9
Meanwhile, some additional restoration
work was also carried out on the walls of

the newly discovered auditoria in Area H.
In Hall I, a considerable section of the
eastern wall was consolidated. The wall
built in the pillar technique (opus africanum)
was now completed with new stones found
during excavation and the void joints
pointed with new lime mortar.
Conservation work was also conducted
in auditorium P excavated last season. In
order to prompt an understanding of the
original appearance of the edifice, one or
two courses of ashlars were added on the
top of the existing north wall and in the
apse. The same approach decided about the
restoration of some of the benches along
the northern wall, which had suffered from
later burials.
The newly uncovered auditorium N
also received immediate attention. First,
the missing facing of the eastern wall was
repaired over a distance of some 14 m. The
wall had suffered badly from weathering
and damages caused by medieval burials.
All the missing or eroded stones were re-
placed with new ones. The wall was rebuilt
to a maximum height of some 1.60-1.80 m
in places and the wall coping additionally
reinforced to prevent water penetration.
Some of the benches along the northern
wall were found to be quite well preserved
with only minor reparation needed, while
the southern part of the auditorium had
been almost entirely robbed out. The

8 See PAM XIV, Reports 2002 (2003), 19-31.
9 The lifting operation was successfully designed and supervised by Dr. W. Kol^taj.

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