Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (17.2005(2007))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

TOWN CENTER

The present excavation was concentrated
on investigating the southeastern corner of
the Town Square (Forum) and the struc-
tures located on either side of a street
running southward, opening off a paved
street that led east from the South Portico
of the main square [Fig. I].2
ROOMS 1-4
In the previous season, the mission had
succeeded in clearing rooms 1-3, lining the
eastern side of the southbound street.
Work in room 1 had stopped on a layer of
stone blocks evidently belonging to the
tumbled walls of the building. Removal of

the first layer of blocks coming from the
upper parts of the walls of the room,
revealed an underlying layer of blocks.
These proved to be the collapsed west wall
of the room, which had folded westward.
All the elements were lying in order,
including a doorway (1.10 m wide, c. 1.95 m
high), which had been carefully blocked
when a kitchen facility was installed in the
western part of this room [Fig. 2],
The kitchen installation found in this
room ran the entire length of the west wall
[cf. Fig. 2], Its introduction blocked access
to the door in the west wall, changing the
functional arrangement of the room, which


Fig. 2. Collapsed west wall of room 1, blocks and doorway found in situ; the kitchen installation seen
in the foreground (Photo W.A. Daszewski)

2 Cf. W.A. Daszewski et al., PAM XVI. Reports 2004 (2005), 89-92; for earlier work in this area, see PAM XIV Reports
2002 (2003), 59 and Fig. 14.

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