Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

MAREA

EGYPT

The entrance to the chapel, preserving
the two lateral projections, lies 7 m away
from the west wall of the transept. All that
survives of the interior decoration of this
chamber is a small Corinthian capital
(H. 0.15 m).
Joining the north wall of the chapel on
the outside were two thin perpendicular
walls, partly uncovered in the present
campaign, one in line with the entrance

Continued exploration of the kiln found
under the apse of the basilica involved
extending the trench about 2 m to the west
(toward the nave). The fill on the northern
and southern side of the trench contained

and the other a little further away [cf.
Fig. 7]. They are suggestive of yet another
chamber being located behind the wall
here. Ledges for steps, possibly leading to
the emporas in the aisle, were noted in the
wall between the two walls [Fig. 6]. The
fill behind the wall yielded a sherd from
a Coptic plate featuring a wavy edge and
painted scene from the Dionysiac reper-
toire [Fig. 7}.

numerous blocks of limestone fallen from
the walls of the basilica. Three coins were
found with the disturbed building material,
as well as iron nails of considerable size,
a piece of terracotta oil lamp and fragments


Fig. 5. Blocked passage between alleged chapel and small next-door room. Note opening of a chan-
nel in the wall of the room on the right (Photo J.M. Kucy)

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