Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

ALEXANDRIA

EGYPT

APPENDIX II
MOSLEM CEMETERY IN AREAS CW
AND L ON KOM EL-DIKKA

(EXCAVATIONS IN THE 2005/2006 SEASON)

Emanuela Kulicka

During the 2005/2006 excavation season,
new sections of the Moslem burial ground
known to have occupied successively most
of the Kom el-Dikka site were explored in
Areas CW (northern part of the Theater
Portico) and L (cistern in the southeastern
quarter of the site). In the former area, all
three phases of the cemetery were recorded:
AREA
UPPER NECROPOLIS
Area CW lies immediately to the northeast
of the spot where the southern bath passage
intercepts the Theater Portico. On the east
it is bordered by the latrine, on the north by
lecture hall AS. Excavations in this area,
which measures 20 by 16 m, uncovered
a total of 67 tombs from the Upper
Necropolis [Fig. 1}.
The layer containing the graves is
strongly inclined, the difference between
the eastern and western parts being more
than 2 m. In the western part, which lay at
an exceptionally low level, the tomb
superstructures rested on the stylobate of
the portico, while the burial chambers
reached down even a meter below that.

Upper from the late 11th and early 12th
century, Middle from the end of the 9th
and early 10th century, and Lower from the
7th/8th century. In Area L, the Upper
Necropolis level was superimposed directly
on top of the Late Antique remains of draw-
ing wells and water channels (for details, see
above, the main body of the report).
CW
Eleven of the preserved superstruc-
tures were constructed of vertical lime-
stone slabs: CW 8, 9, 29, 38, 39 (41, 42
were damaged), 53, 54, 56, 66. This kind
of superstructure appears to be the oldest
among the types distinguished in
the Upper Necropolis. Burials CW 8, 39,
53, 54 and 56 were simple internments
and so the bones have not been preserved.
The other six tombs had cases built
of small dressed stones, plastered on
the inside and covered with limestone
slabs. All the superstructures measured
2.10 m by 1.20 m, the cases being 2.00 m
by 0.70 m. Some of the graves were
damaged by later tombs, indicating that
this simplest type was at the same time

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