Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (17.2005(2007))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

with the decoration rendered in stucco,
found in the ruins of the civic basilica
during the present excavations, was cleaned
and protected provisionally on the spot.
Delaminated fragments of the decoration
were protected with gauze attached with
5% polyvinyl acetate. An appropriate
construction of cardboard and stones was
built around the capital on location.
A provisional restoration of one of the
benches on lion's feet lining the back wall of
the South Portico was accomplished in
preparation for the actual procedures to be
carried out later in the season by the Marina
el-Alamein Preservation Mission.10
The stone shelves in room 1 in the shop
in the southeastern corner of the main

square11 were dismantled, the missing
elements restored and the construction re-
erected in its original location [cf. above,
Fig. 3}. One of the horizontal limestone
slabs had to be replaced with new stone and
two of the supports had to be reconstructed.
A lime-cement mortar with Primal E330
(composition as above) was used for the
purpose of bonding the structure.
In Tomb 29, the top of the stone offering
table in front of the central loculus in the
south wall was also protected and the edges
reinforced. Small losses of the surface were
filled with lime putty mixed with PRIMAL
E330. Reinforcing impregnation was made
with silico-organic preparation FUNCOSIL
KSE 300E.


Fig. 14. Wooden construction set up above the preserved architectural members for protection in storage
on the site (Photo W.A. Daszewski)

10 The form ol the bench was suggested by Prof. W.A. Daszewski. For the results of the conservation work, see below,
p. 109 and Fig. 11.
11 Cf. PAM XVI, op. cit., 90, 92 and Fig. 20.

90