Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

the losses filled in with limestone of
parameters like the original.5 Four new
drums and two new bases were made for
the purposes of anastylosis, which should
be completed in the coming season, using
elements prepared this year.
ANASTYLOSIS OF TOMB T1K
The anastylosis of the pillar structure of
Tomb T1K was completed largely in the
past season. (The tomb had been excavated
in 1994,6 and it was then that the inventory
drawings were prepared and a drawing re-
construction of the superstructure propo-
sed).7 This year an architrave was intro-
duced crowning the cornice, two receding
courses of blocks and the base of a small
pillar topping the structure [Fig. 4~\.8 Most
of the elements were original and were
found toppled around the tomb. Only two
of four architrave blocks and the blocks of
the second course above the cornice had
survived. The rest have now been recon-
structed in new limestone. The corner
fragment of one of the four blocks forming
the full circumference of the cornice was
broken off and lost. There were other losses
as well, requiring full workshop conserva-
tion9 that included desalination. Epoxy
resin (Kemapoxy 150 by C.M.B., produced
in Egypt) was used to fasten the corner piece
made in new limestone, reinforced with two
stainless steel rods. Larger losses were filled

in with new limestone, smaller ones with
mineral putty (binder-to-filler ratio 1:3).
The binder was a mixture of slaked lime
with white Portland cement (1:1), the filler
crushed lime. A small amount of 5%
solution of acryl resin (PRIMAL AC 33) was
added to the mortar.
Specialist conservation work on this
tomb superstructure covered also a struc-
tural reinforcement of the carved elements
of the tympanum above the small niche
holding a sculptured stela in the middle of
the east side. A silicon stone strengthener
(OH by Remmers) was used for the purpose.
The anastylosis of all the elements was
carried out using traditional methods with
mortar in accepted proportions of sand,
slaked lime and white Portland cement
(6:3:1). The bigger losses were filled in with
putty and a finishing chromatic unification
was carried out using mineral pigments.
HYPOGEUM T1GH
Following upon previous conservation
work in this hypogeum,10 which included
the restoration of dromos H and the
decorated casing of the light shaft of the
hypogeum in 2002-2003 [Fig. 5], the mis-
sion now proceeded with a partial recon-
struction of the entrance kiosk to dromos
G [Fig. 6}.11 Since it seems likely that the
kiosk was destroyed already when the
neighboring pillar tomb T1D was con-

5 Piotr Zambrzycki was responsible for the conservation work.
6 Cf W.A. Daszewski, PAM VI, Reports 1994 (1995), 31 and Figs. 2,3.
7 See Fig. 5 in previous report, PAM XV, op. cit., 97.
8 Anastylosis by Rafal Czerner and Wieslaw Grzegorek.
9 Specialist conservation work by Irma Fuks-Rembisz and Piotr Zambrzycki, who have also contributed their remarks to
this report.
10 Undertaken first in 1993 by an Egyptian-Polish team headed by Jaroslaw Dobrowolski, cf. PAM V, Reports 1993 (1994),
37-38. Dromos G was protected then and the natural stone ceilings in the hypogeum were supported on artificial pillars.
In 1998, our mission began work on the destroyed entrance kiosk, recomposing and fixing the lintel of the main entrance
with cornice and dentils.
11 Reconstruction by Rafal Czerner and Wieslaw Grzegorek. See also W.A. Daszewski, "A la recherche d'une Egypte peu
connue: Travaux sur la cote nord-ouest a Marina el-Alamein", CRAI 1993, 409, Fig. 5.

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