Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

ALEXANDRIA

EGYPT

SITE PRESENTATION PROGRESS REPORT

Visitors paths around the theatre were
remodeled and given a modern surfacing
of prefabricated concrete pavers. New
concrete surfacing was also introduced
around the main entrance where heavy
transport can be expected. Grass carpets
were extended along the footpaths and
integrated with existing structures. The
stone-made auditorium built in 2000 in
front of the Roman theatre and used for
modern theatrical performances was also
refurbished in order to make it more
aesthetically compatible with the ancient
monuments (for this auditorium, see
Kokitaj 2001: 24). A new perimeter fence
of forged iron panels (each c. 11 m long),
mounted on a reinforced concrete base and
fixed to posts, replaced the old wall along
the southern boundary of the site, opening
the site visually and integrating it better
with the modern city fabric.
The temporary display of objects
retrieved during Franco-Egyptian under-
water excavations near the Qait Bey fort

was thoroughly rearranged and a similar
display of architectural pieces (columns,
bases, capitals and fragments of statuary),
coming from various sites in Alexandria
and in temporary storage at Kom el-Dikka,
was mounted along the footpath leading to
the Villa of the Birds. The path itself, made
in this stretch of salvaged basalt setts, was
widened here to c. 3 m [Fig. 1]. The steps
leading down to the Villa from the level of
the cistern (Koi^taj 1997: 22 and Fig. 3)
were also similarly upgraded.
The most challenging operation of the
season was the landscaping of the western
part of the site. The entire excavated and
restored section of the portico (some 70 m
long) was leveled and scattered with gravel
[Fig. 2]. A stone ramp was introduced to
facilitate communication between the
modern auditorium and the portico. The
western edge of the excavation area was
formed into a sloping escarpment and
grassed. A new access road to the excavated
part of the site was arranged.

EXCAVATIONS

AREA CW
Excavations started with the exploration of
medieval Moslem graves CW 1 — CW 39,
identified in this area during the previous
season [Fig. 4] (Majcherek 2006: 25; for
excavations in the adjacent area AS, cf. Maj-
cherek 2004: 32-34; see also contribution by
E. Kulicka, below in this volume). On-site
anthropological examination was carried out
by Robert Mahler from the PCMA.
In this part of the burial ground, the
graves were packed in tightly. At least two
separate clusters, each enclosed within
a perimeter wall, were identified: graves
CW 17-19 in the southern part of the area

and graves CW 24-26 lying further to the
north. In both cases, the perimeter walls
were structured of rather small stones set
in lime mortar and preserved generally to
a height of 0.20-0.40 m, although one
section was even 0.90 m high. Of special
interest was the southern perimeter wall
(nos 20-21) preserving a small mihrab
niche lined with plaster. Similar archi-
tectural features had been recorded
previously in other areas of the cemetery as
well (Promihska 1972: Plan II; cf. also
Majcherek 1999: 34).
The construction of particular graves
evinced some variability. As a rule, most of

31