Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (17.2005(2007))

TELL LARAMA

EGYPT

SOME REMARKS ON THE STRATIGRAPHY
AND ARCHITECTURAL VESTIGES
IN SECTOR 1 AT TELL FARAMA (PELUSIUM)
SEASON 2005

Szymon Maslak

Having set themselves the objective of
clearing structures already partly visible
on the surface in the northern part of the
concession area, the excavators opened
a trench 18 by 18 m1 on the western slope
of a small artificial rise about 180 m north
of the theatre (Sector 1), slightly to the
southwest of some collapsed granite

columns.2 Structures appeared immediately
upon removal of the topsoil. They were
mostly in poor condition, yet they furnished
new information regarding the methods and
materials used in Pelusiac building con-
struction to counter the constantly destruc-
tive impact, both in the past and present, of
a humid and salty environment.

STRATIGRAPHY

Test pits were dug in three corners of the
main trench in order to shed light on the
local stratigraphy.3 The northeastern pit
measured approximately 1.50 by 2.50 m
and descended 2.60 m, counting from the
present ground surface. A fragmentary
floor (no. 3 in the section drawing in Fig. 1)
was found directly under the topsoil with
fragments extending further to the
northwest. The sequence under this floor
consisted of mostly soil layers containing
rubbish and sherds, animal bones, crushed
baked brick, lime, ashes, etc. The bottom
two (nos 18 and 19) were practically sterile
(few sherds) and were deposited more or

less horizontally. The next and all sub-
sequent layers fall away to the north, thus
apparently kick-starting the process of
dump accumulation.
Distinctive layers included no. 10,
which corresponded perhaps to the upper
part of the foundation of a lost wall,
and certainly formed the walking level of
a courtyard or at least a deposit accu-
mulated on such a level. Layer no. 16
consisted mostly of tightly packed chunks
of baked-brick rubble, originating from
the dismantling of a nearby wall, or else
transported to the dump from a more
distant place. This refuse function was only

1 See the report on Tell Farama by K. Jakubiak in this volume and especially the plan in Fig. 5 on p. 130.
2 These columns are believed to be the same as those indicated on a plan attached to Cledat's description of the site, see
J. Cledat, "Le temple de Zeus Cassios a Peluse", ASAE 13 (1914), 80, Fig. 1.
3 A surprisingly high water table in the excavated area limited the depth of the testing; coupled with safety reasons, this
resulted in all the pits narrowing toward the bottom.

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