Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (17.2005(2007))

ALEXANDRIA

EGYPT

a rebuilding of the original entrance. Both
door jambs were structured in small blocks,
following the original technique.
Auditorium L posed yet another prob-
lem. It was ascertained that the area behind
the wall had been abandoned already in late
antiquity, becoming a dumping ground for
city waste. The process of accumulation was
so rapid that ancient builders had to deal
with the heavy load exerted by the growing
dump. Although built of large ashlars, the
east wall constructed in the 6th century had
not sustained the combined load of the
dump and had leaned out substantially,
requiring intervention {Fig. 8. top}. Fol-
lowing photographic documentation of the
most endangered section, all the stones in
the topmost three courses of masonry were
duly marked and the section carefully
dismantled. The whole wall was then
reassembled {Fig. 8, bottom]. In order to
assure stability, some badly eroded stones
were replaced with new blocks.
In auditorium H, a badly damaged
eastern wall was also restored to its original
appearance. The wall had originally been
constructed in pillar technique with the
pillars made of large blocks and the
intercolumnar spaces filled with small
stones. The said wall had lost some of the
original fabric, mostly in the built-in
spaces between the pillars. The joints were
now filled with lime mortar and losses
completed with coursed squared rubble.
New wall coping was formed in order to
prevent moisture penetrating from the
adjacent escarpment.
Preservation work was also continued in
auditorium N, located in the northern
section of the portico. The operation of
restoring auditorium seats was now
completed with the entire western bench
being rebuilt. An adjacent section of the
portico backwall was also rebuilt. The
work, however, had to be halted for lack of

building material. Even so, large patches of
the original pavement could be restored,
using limestone slabs found nearby.
BATHS COMPLEX
Work continued on a restoration of the
vaults in the southern wing of the
underground vaulted structure. Two more
partially collapsed vaults located in the
eastern end of the complex were restored.
Most of the stones in the vaults were
seriously deteriorated, threatening im-
mediate collapse. The vaults were first
thoroughly documented and then
dismantled. New abutments made of large
blocks were made and subsequently the
vaults were reassembled on specially
designed timber scaffolding and raised to
the original level. Some of the badly
damaged and crumbled voussoirs were
replaced with new ones. The vault was then
covered with an outer coating made of a
double layer of small stones set in a manner
similar to the original ones.
The corner of a nearby cross vaulting
also called for immediate attention. The
entire structure was first explored down to
the footing. During the exploration, three
4th century lamps (reg. nos 5112-5114)
were found in the fill, once again
confirming the dating of the vaulted
structure {Fig. 9}. A new abutment was
made and the entire vault stabilized.
Work was also continued in the area
next to the western gate of the bath
complex, where one of the adjacent vaults
was consolidated and restored {Fig. 10].
Minor preservation operations were
carried out in the southern latrine of the
bath. Its walls were now consolidated with
several new blocks replacing the most
deteriorated ones or filling in the losses.
Three column bases executed a couple of
years ago were now mounted in their
respective locations and fixed with mortar.

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